If you have a statute, check the index for the specific Section or topic. Step 2 - The Maxims: Look up Ejusdem Generis (general words following specific words get limited to the same class) or Expressio Unius Est Exclusio Alterius (express mention of one thing excludes the other). Step 3 - Check the Presumptions: Does your case involve retrospective effect? Check the chapter on "Retrospective Operation." Step 4 - Constitutional Validity: If challenging a law, read the chapter on "Presumption of Constitutionality." Singh notes that courts presume the legislature acts within its powers.
Where general words follow a list of specific words belonging to a distinct category, the general words are restricted to things of the same kind or nature as the specific words.
Courts must lean toward an interpretation that makes the statute workable and valid, rather than one that renders it redundant, useless, or unconstitutional. 6. The Legacy of G.P. Singh’s Work
What remedy did the legislature resolve to cure the disease?
Internal aids are components found within the statute itself. Singh provides exhaustive guidance on how to utilize:
Specific where the Supreme Court applied these principles. How foreign precedents are used in this context.
Debates, reports, and previous versions of the bill.
G.P. Singh’s treatise meticulously analyzes the classic canons of interpretation, prioritizing them based on judicial discipline. The Literal Rule (Plain Meaning Rule)
The words may be interpreted in a way that avoids the absurdity while doing the least possible violence to the language. Justice Singh notes that this rule must be used with caution, only to remedy obvious drafting errors, not to rewrite policy. 3. The Mischief Rule (Rule in Heydon’s Case)
The legislature is presumed not to intend a result that is unjust, unreasonable, or inconvenient to the citizen. Impact and Legacy
The express mention of one thing implies the exclusion of another. If a law explicitly lists specific items, items not listed are presumed to be excluded.