General Clauses Act 1897

4/1/2016 GENERALCLAUSESACT1897
GENERALCLAUSESACT1897
Preamble1GENERALCLAUSESACT,1897
THEGENERALCLAUSESACT,1897
[Act,No.10of1897]1
[11thMarch,1897]
PREAMBLE
AnActtoconsolidateandextendtheGeneralClausesAct,1868and1887.
whereas it is expedient to consolidate and extend the General Clauses Acts, 1868 (1 of
1868)and1887(1of1887)itisherebyenactedasfollows:
________________________
1. For Statement of Objects and Reasons, see Gazette of India, 1897, Pt. V, p. 38 for
ReportoftheSelectCommittee,seeGazetteofIndia,Pt.V,p.77,andforProceedingsin
CouncilseeGazetteofIndia,Pt.VI,pp.35,40,56and76.
ThisActhasbeendeclaredtobeinforceintheSanthalParganasbytheSanthalParganas
SettlementRegulation,1872(3of1872),Section3inPanthPiplodabythePanthPiploda
Laws Regulation, 1929 (1 of 1929), Section 2 in Khondmals District by the Khondmals
Laws Regulation, 1936 (4 of 1936), Section 3 and Sch and in the Angul District by the
AngulLawsRegulation,1936(5of1936),Section3andSchedule
TheActhasbeenpartiallyextendedtoBerarbytheBerarLawsAct,1941(4of1941)and
to the new Provinces and Merged States by the Merged States (Laws) Act, 1949 (59 of
1949).
TheActhasbeenextendedto
Goa, Daman and Diu with modifications by Regulation 12 of 1962, Section3 and
Schedule
DadraandNagarHavelibyRegulation6of1963,Section2andScheduleI
PondicherrybyRegulation7of1963,Section3andScheduleIand
Laccadive, Minicoy and Amindivi Islands by Regulation 8 of 1965, Section3 and

Schedule
IthasbeenamendedinAssambytheAssamCommissioners'PowersDistributionAct,
1939(AssamAct1of1939).
Section1Shorttitle
http://www.manupatrafast.in/ba/fulldisp.aspx?iactid=490 1/20
(1)ThisActmaybecalledtheGeneralClausesAct,18971[***]
2[***]
________________________
1.Theword"and"rep.byAct10of1914,Section3andScheduleII.
2.Subsection(2)rep.byAct1of1914,Section3andScheduleII.
Section2Repeal[Repealed]
[Rep.bytheRepealingandAmendingAct,1903(1of1903),Section4andScheduleIII.]
Section3Definitions

1[3.Definitions
InthisAct,andinallCentralActsandRegulationsmadeafterthecommencementofthis
Act,unlessthereisanythingrepugnantinthesubjectorcontext,
(1) "abet", with its grammatical variations and cognate expressions, shall have the
samemeaningasintheIndianPenalCode(45of1860)
(2)"act",usedwithreferencetoanoffenceoracivilwrong,shallincludeaseriesof
acts,andwordswhichrefertoactsdoneextendalsotoillegalomissions
(3) "affidavit" shall include affirmation and declaration in the case of persons by law
allowedtoaffirmordeclareinsteadofswearing
(4) "barrister" shall mean a barrister of England or Ireland, or a member of the

FacultyofAdvocatesinScotland
(5) "British India" shall mean, as respects the period before the commencement of
Part III of the Government of India Act, 1935, all territories and places within His
Majesty's dominions which were for the time being governed by His Majesty through
the Governor General of India or through any Governor or Officer subordinate to the
GovernorGeneralofIndia,andasrespectsanyperiodafterthatdateandbeforethe
date of the establishment of the Dominion of India means all territories for the time
being comprised within the Governors' Provinces and the Chief Commissioners'
Provinces, except that a reference to British India in an Indian law passed or made
beforethecommencementofPartIIIoftheGovernmentofIndiaAct,1935,shallnot
includeareferencetoBerar
(6) "British possession" shall mean any part of Her Majesty's dominions exclusive of
theUnitedKingdom,andwherepartsofthosedominionsareunderbothaCentraland
a Local Legislature, all parts under the Central Legislature shall, for the purposes of
thisdefinition,bedeemedtobeoneBritishpossession
(7)"CentralAct"shallmeansanActofParliament,andshallinclude
(a) an Act of the Dominion Legislature or of the Indian Legislature passed before
thecommencementoftheConstitution2,and
(b) an Act made before such commencement by the Governor General in Council
ortheGovernorGeneral,actinginalegislativecapacity
3[(8)"CentralGovernment"shall,
(a) in relation to anything done before the commencement of the Constitution,

mean the Governor General or the Governor General in Council, as the case may
beandshallinclude,
(i)inrelationtofunctionsentrustedundersubsection(1)ofsection124ofthe
GovernmentofIndiaAct,1935,totheGovernmentofaProvince,theProvincial
Government acting within the scope of the authority given to it under that
subsectionand
(ii) in relation to the administration of a Chief Commissioner's Province, the

ChiefCommissioneractingwithinthescopeoftheauthoritygiventohimunder
subsection(3)ofsection94ofthesaidActand
(b) in relation to anything done or to be done after the commencement of the

Constitution,meanthePresidentandshallinclude,
(i) in relation to functions entrusted under clause (1) of article 258 of the
Constitution,totheGovernmentofaState,theStateGovernmentactingwithin
thescopeoftheauthoritygiventoitunderthatclause4[***]
(ii) in relation to the administration of a Part C State 5 [before the

commencement of the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 19566 ], the
Chief Commissioner or the LieutenantGovernor or the Government of a
neighbouring State or other authority acting within the scope of the authority
given to him or it under article 239 or article 243 of the Constitution, as the
casemaybe]5[and]
5 [(iii) in relation to the administration of a Union territory, the administrator

thereofactingwithinthescopeoftheauthoritygiventohimunderarticle239
oftheConstitution]
(9)"Chapter"shallmeanaChapteroftheActorRegulationinwhichthewordoccurs
(10)"ChiefControllingRevenueAuthority"or"ChiefRevenueAuthority"shallmean
(a)inaStatewherethereisaBoardofRevenue,thatBoard
(b)inaStatewherethereisaRevenueCommissioner,thatCommissioner
(c)inPunjab,theFinancialCommissionerand
(d)elsewhere,suchauthorityas,inrelationtomattersenumeratedinListIinthe
Seventh Schedule to the Constitution, the Central Government, and in relation to
other matters, the State Government, may by notification in the Official Gazette,
appoint
(11)"Collector"shallmean,inaPresidencytown,theCollectorofCalcutta,Madrasor
Bombay, as the case may be, and elsewhere the chief officerincharge of the
revenueadministrationofadistrict
(12)"Colony"
(a) in any Central Act passed after the commencement of Part III of the
GovernmentofIndiaAct,19357,shallmeananypartofHisMajesty'sdominions
exclusive of the British Islands, the Dominions of India and Pakistan (and before
the establishment of those Dominions8 , British India), any Dominions as defined
intheStatuteofWestminster,1931,anyProvinceorStateformingpartofanyof
thesaidDominions,andBritishBurmaand
(b)inanyCentralActpassedbeforethecommencementofPartIIIofthesaidAct,
mean any part of His Majesty's dominions exclusive of the British Islands and of
BritishIndia
andineithercasewherepartsofthosedominionsareunderbothaCentralandLocal
Legislature, all parts under the Central Legislature shall, for the purposes of this
definition,bedeemedtobeonecolony.
(13) "Commencement" used with reference to an Act or Regulation, shall mean the
dayonwhichtheActorRegulationcomesintoforce
(14) "Commissioner" shall mean the chief officerincharge of the revenue

administrationofadivision
STATEAMENDMENT
9Assam:
Afterthewords"adivision",thefollowingwordsshallbeinserted:
"andshallincludetheAssamRevenueTribunalwhileexercisingjurisdictionheretofore
exercisedbyacommissionerinappealsandrevisionsinRevenuecases."
(15)"Constitution"shallmeantheConstitutionofIndia
(16) "Consular officer" shall include consulgeneral, consul, viceconsul, consular

agent,proconsulandanypersonforthetimebeingauthorisedtoperformtheduties
ofconsulgeneral,consul,viceconsulorconsularagent
(17) "District Judge" shall mean the Judge of a principal Civil Court of original
jurisdiction, but shall not include a High Court in the exercise of its ordinary or
extraordinaryoriginalciviljurisdiction
(18) "document" shall include any matter written, expressed or described upon any
substancebymeansofletters,figuresormarks,orbymorethanoneofthosemeans
whichisintendedtobeused,orwhichmaybeused,forthepurposeofrecordingthat
matter
(19) "enactment" shall include a Regulation (as hereinafter defined) and any
Regulation of the Bengal, Madras or Bombay Code, and shall also include any
provisioncontainedinanyActorinanysuchRegulationasaforesaid
STATEAMENDMENTS
10AndhraPradesh:
After the words "any Regulation of Bengal, Madras or Bombay Code", insert the words
"and any Regulation of the Madras Code in force in the Slate of Andhra as it existed
immediatelybeforethe1stNovember,1956."
11TamilNadu:
For the words "State of Andhra Pradesh as it existed immediately before the 1st
November,1956",substitutethewords"territoriesspecifiedintheSecondScheduletothe
AndhraPradeshandMadras(AlterationofBoundaries)Act,1959(C.A.56of1959)".
(20) "father", in the case of any one whose personal law permits adoption, shall
includeanadoptivefather
(21)"financialyear"shallmeantheyearcommencingonthefirstdayofApril
(22) a thing shall be deemed to be done in "good faith" where it is in fact done
honestly,whetheritisdonenegligentlyornot
(23) "Government" or "the Government" shall include both the Central Government
andanyStateGovernment
(24) "Government securities" shall mean securities of the Central Government or of

anyStateGovernment,butinanyActorRegulationmadebeforethecommencement
oftheConstitutionshallnotincludesecuritiesoftheGovernmentofanyPartBState
(25) "High Court", used with reference to civil proceedings, shall mean the highest
Civil Court of appeal (not including the Supreme Court) in the part of India in which
theActorRegulationcontainingtheexpressionoperates
(26)"immovableproperty"shallincludeland,benefitstoariseoutofland,andthings
attachedtotheearth,orpermanentlyfastenedtoanythingattachedtotheearth
(27) "imprisonment" shall mean imprisonment of either description as defined in the

IndianPenalCode(45of1860)
(28)"India"shallmean,
(a) as respects any period before the establishment of the Dominion of India,8
BritishIndiatogetherwithallterritoriesofIndianRulersthenunderthesuzerainty
ofHisMajesty,allterritoriesunderthesuzeraintyofsuchanIndianRuler,andthe
tribalareas
(b) as respects any period after the establishment of the Dominion of India8 and
before the commencement of the Constitution2 , all territories for the time being
includedinthatDominionand
(c) as respects any period after the commencement of the Constitution2 , all
territoriesforthetimebeingcomprisedintheterritoryofIndia
(29)"Indianlaw"shallmeananyAct,Ordinance,Regulation,rule, 12[order,byelaw
or other instrument] which before the commencement of the Constitution2 , had the
forceoflawinanyProvinceofIndiaorpartthereof,orthereafterhastheforceoflaw
in any Part A State or Part C State or Part thereof, but does not include any Act of
Parliament of the United Kingdom or any Order in Council, rule or other instrument
madeundersuchAct
(30)"IndianState"shallmeananyterritorywhichtheCentralGovernmentrecognised
assuchaStatebeforethecommencementoftheConstitution,2whetherdescribedas
aState,anEstate,aJagirorotherwise
(31) "local authority" shall mean a municipal committee, district board, body of port
Commissionersorotherauthoritylegallyentitledto,orentrustedbytheGovernment
with,thecontrolormanagementofamunicipalorlocalfund
(32) "Magistrate" shall include every person exercising all or any of the powers of a
MagistrateundertheCodeofCriminalProcedureforthetimebeinginforce
(33) "master", used with reference to a ship, shall mean, any person (except a pilot
orharbourmaster)havingforthetimebeingcontrolorchargeoftheship
(34)"mergedterritories"shallmeantheterritorieswhichbyvirtueofanordermade
under section 290A of the Government of India Act, 1935, were immediately before
thecommencementoftheConstitution2beingadministeredasiftheyformedpartofa
Governor'sProvinceorasiftheywereaChiefCommissioner'sProvince
(35)"month"shallmeanamonthreckonedaccordingtotheBritishcalendar
(36)"movableproperty"shallmeanpropertyofeverydescription,exceptimmovable
property
(37) "oath" shall include affirmation and declaration in the case of persons by law
allowedtoaffirmordeclareinsteadofswearing
(38) "offence" shall mean any act or omission made punishable by any law for the
timebeinginforce
(39) "official Gazette" or "Gazette" shall mean the Gazette of India or the Official
GazetteofaState
(40)"Part"shallmeanapartoftheActorRegulationinwhichthewordoccurs
(41) "Part A State" shall mean a State for the time being specified in Part A of the
First Schedule to the Constitution, 5 [as in force before the Constitution (Seventh
Amendment)Act,1956,]"PartBState"shallmeanaStateforthetimebeingspecified
in Part B of that Schedule and "Part C State" shall mean a State for the time being
specified in Part C of that Schedule or a territory for the time being administered by
thePresidentundertheprovisionsofarticle243oftheConstitution
(42)"person"shallincludeanycompanyorassociationorbodyofindividuals,whether
incorporatedornot
(43)"PoliticalAgent"shallmean,
(a) in relation to any territory outside India, the Principal Officer, by whatever
namecalled,representingtheCentralGovernmentinsuchterritoryand
(b) in relation to any territory within India to which the Act or Regulation
containing the expression does not extend, any officer appointed by the Central
GovernmenttoexercisealloranyofthepowersofaPoliticalAgentunderthatAct
orRegulation
(44) "Presidencytown" shall mean the local limits for the time being of the ordinary
original civil jurisdiction of the High Court of Judicature at Calcutta, Madras or
Bombay,asthecasemaybe
(45) "Province" shall mean a Presidency, a Governor's Province, a Lieutenant

Governor'sProvinceoraChiefCommissioner'sProvince
(46) "Provincial Act" shall mean an Act made by the Governor in Council, Lieutenant
Governor in Council or Chief Commissioner in Council of a Province under any of the
Indian Councils Acts or the Government of India Act, 1915, or an Act made by the
LocalLegislatureortheGovernorofaProvinceundertheGovernmentofIndiaAct,or
an Act made by the Provincial Legislature or Governor of a Province or the Coorg
LegislativeCouncilundertheGovernmentofIndiaAct,1935
(47) "Provincial Government" shall mean, as respects anything done before the
commencement of the Constitution2 , the authority or person authorised at the
relevantdatetoadministerexecutiveGovernmentintheProvinceinquestion
(48) "public nuisance" shall mean a public nuisance as defined in the Indian Penal
Code(45of1860)
(49) "registered", used with reference to a document, shall mean registered in 13

[India]underthelawforthetimebeinginforcefortheregistrationofdocuments
(50)"Regulation"shallmeanaRegulationmadebythePresident 14[underarticle240
oftheConstitutionandshallincludeaRegulationmadebythePresidentunderarticle
243thereofand]aRegulationmadebytheCentralGovernmentundertheGovernment
ofIndiaAct,1870,ortheGovernmentofIndiaAct,1915,ortheGovernmentofIndia
Act,1935
(51) "rule" shall mean a rule made in exercise of a power conferred by any
enactment,andshallincludeaRegulationmadeasaruleunderanyenactment
(52) "schedule" shall mean a schedule to the Act or Regulation in which the word
occurs
(53)"ScheduledDistrict"shallmeana"ScheduledDistrict"asdefinedintheScheduled
DistrictsAct,1874
(54)"section"shallmeanasectionoftheActorRegulationinwhichthewordoccurs
(55)"ship"shallincludeeverydescriptionofvesselusedinnavigationnotexclusively
propelledbyoars
(56) "sign", with its grammatical variations and cognate expressions, shall, with
reference to a person who is unable to write his name, include "mark", with its
grammaticalvariationsandcognateexpressions
(57)"son",inthecaseofanyonewhosepersonallawpermitsadoption,shallinclude
anadoptedson
15[(58)"State"
(a)asrespectsanyperiodbeforethecommencementoftheConstitution(Seventh
Amendment) Act, 1956, shall mean a Part A State, a Part B State or a Part C
Stateand
(b)asrespectsanyperiodaftersuchcommencement,shallmeanaStatespecified
intheFirstScheduletotheConstitutionandshallincludeaUnionterritory]
(59)"StateAct"shallmeananActpassedbytheLegislatureofaStateestablishedor
continuedbytheConstitution
(60)"StateGovernment",
(a)asrespectsanythingdonebeforethecommencementoftheConstitution,shall
mean,inaPartAState,theProvincialGovernmentofthecorrespondingProvince,
in a Part B State, the authority or person authorised at the relevant date to
exerciseexecutivegovernmentinthecorrespondingAccedingState,andinaPart
CState,theCentralGovernment4[***]
(b) as respects anything done 16 [after the commencement of the Constitution2

and before the commencement of the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act,
1956]17 , shall mean, in a Part A State, the Governor, in a Part B State, the
Rajpramukh,andinaPartCState,theCentralGovernment
5 [(c) as respects anything done or to be done after the commencement of the

Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, shall mean, in a State, the
Governor,andinaUnionterritory,theCentralGovernment
and shall, in relation to functions entrusted under article 258A of the Constitution to the
Government of India, include the Central Government acting within the scope of the
authoritygiventoitunderthatarticle]
(61)"subsection"shallmeanasubsectionofthesectioninwhichthewordoccurs
(62) "swear", with its grammatical variations and cognate expressions, shall include
affirming and declaring in the case of persons by law allowed to affirm or declare
insteadofswearing
5 [(62A) "Union territory" shall mean any Union territory specified in the First
ScheduletotheConstitutionandshallincludeanyotherterritorycomprisedwithinthe
territoryofIndiabutnotspecifiedinthatSchedule]
(63)"vessel"shallincludeanyshiporboatoranyotherdescriptionofvesselusedin
navigation
(64) "will" shall include a codicil and every writing making a voluntary posthumous
dispositionofproperty
(65) expressions referring to "writing" shall be construed as including references to

printing, lithorgraphy, photography and other modes of representing or reproducing
wordsinavisibleformand
(66)"year"shallmeanayearreckonedaccordingtotheBritishcalendar.]
________________________
1.SubstitutedbytheA.O.1950,forsection3.
2.26thJanuary,1950.
3.SubstitutedbyAdaptationofLaws(Amendent)Order,1950
4.Theword"and"omittedbytheAdaptationofLaws(No.1)Order,1956.
5.InsertedbytheAdaptationofLaws(No.1)Order,1956.
6.1stJanuary,1956
7.1stApril,1937.
8.15thAugust,1947.
9.AssamAct1of1939,Section5andScheduleBasamendedbyAssamAct4of1940.
10.AndhraPradeshA.L.O.,1954andAndhraPradeshA.L.O.,1957.
11.TamilNadu(AddedTerritories)A.L.O.,1961.
12.SubstitutedbytheAdaptationofLaws(Amendment)Order,1950,for"orderorbyelaw".
13.SubstitutedbytheAdaptationofLaws(No.1)Order,1956for"aPartAStateoraPartCState".
14.SubstitutedbytheAdaptationofLaws(No.1)Order,1956,for"underarticle243oftheConstitution,and
shallinclude".
15.SubstitutedbytheAdaptationofLaws(No.1)Order,1956forclause(58).
16.SubstitutedbytheAdaptationofLaws(No.1)Order,1956,for"ortobedoneafterthecommencementof
theConstitution".
17.1stNovember,1956.

Section4Applicationofforegoingdefinitionstopreviousenactments

(1) The definitions in section 3 of the following words and expressions, that is to say,
"affidavit", "barrister",1 [* * *] "District Judge", "father", 1 [***], 2 [***],1 [***]
"immovable property", "imprisonment", 1 [***] "Magistrate", "month", "movable
property","oath","person","section","son","swear","will",and"year"applyalso,unless
thereisanythingrepugnantinthesubjectorcontext,toall3[CentralActs]madeafterthe
thirddayofJanuary,1868,andtoallRegulationsmadeonorafterthefourteenthdayof
January,1887.
(2) The definitions in the said section of the following words and expressions, that is to
say, "abet", "Chapter", "commencement", "financial year", "local authority", "master",
"offence", "part", "public nuisance", "registered", "schedule", "ship", "sign", "subsection"
and "writing" apply also, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context, to
all3[CentralActs]andRegulationsmadeonorafterthefourteenthdayofJanuary,1887.
________________________
1. The words "British India", "Government of India", "High Court", and "Local Government" rep. by the A.O.
1937.
2.Thewords"HerMajesty"or"theQueen"rep.byAct18of1919,Section3andScheduleII.
3.SubstitutedbytheA.O.1937,for"ActsoftheGovernorGeneralinCouncil".
Section4AApplicationofcertaindefinitionstoIndianLaws

1[4A.ApplicationofcertaindefinitionstoIndianLaws
(1) The definitions in section 3 of the expressions "British India", "Central Act", "Central
Government", "Chief Controlling Revenue Authority", "Chief Revenue Authority",
"Constitution", "Gazette", "Government", "Government securities", "High Court", "India",
"IndianLaw","IndianState","mergedterritories","OfficialGazette","PartAState","Part
B State", "Part C State", Provincial Government", "State" and "State Government" shall
apply,unlessthereisanythingrepugnantinthesubjectorcontext,toallIndianlaws.
(2)InanyIndianlaw,references,bywhateverformofwords,torevenuesoftheCentral
Government or of any State Government shall, on and from the first day of April, 1950,
beconstruedasreferencestotheConsolidatedFundofIndiaortheConsolidatedFundof
theState,asthecasemaybe.]
________________________
1. Substituted by the A.O. 1950, for the former section which was Inserted by the A.O.
1937.
Section5Comingintooperationofenactments

1[(1)WhereanyCentralActisnotexpressedtocomeintooperationonaparticularday,
thenitshallcomeintooperationonthedayonwhichitreceivestheassent,
(a)inthecaseofaCentralActmadebeforethecommencementoftheConstitution2,
oftheGovernorGeneral,and
(b)inthecaseofanActofParliament,ofthePresident.]
3[***]
(3)Unlessthecontraryisexpressed,a4[Central Act] or Regulation shall be construed as

coming into operation immediately on the expiration of the day preceding its
commencement.
________________________
1.SubstitutedbytheA.O.1950,forsubsection(1).
2.26thJanuary,1950.
3.Subsection(2)omittedbytheA.O.1950.
4.SubstitutedbytheA.O.1937,for"ActoftheGovernorGeneralinCouncil".
Section5AComingintooperationofGovernorGeneral'sAct[Repealed]
1[5A.ComingintooperationofGovernorGeneral'sAct
[Rep.bytheA.O.1947.]]
________________________
1.InsertedbytheA.O.1937.
Section6Effectofrepeal
WherethisAct,orany1[CentralAct]orRegulationmadeafterthecommencementofthis
Act, repeals any enactment hitherto made or hereafter to be made, then, unless a
differentintentionappears,therepealshallnot
(a) revive anything not in force or existing at the time at which the repeal takes
effector
(b)affectthepreviousoperationofanyenactmentsorepealedoranythingdulydone
orsufferedthereunderor
(c) affect any right, privilege, obligation or liability acquired, accrued or incurred
underanyenactmentsorepealedor
(d) affect any penalty, forfeiture or punishment incurred in respect of any offence
committedagainstanyenactmentsorepealedor
(e) affect any investigation, legal proceeding or remedy in respect of any such right,
privilege,obligation,liability,penalty,forfeitureorpunishmentasaforesaid
and any such investigation, legal proceeding or remedy may be instituted, continued or
enforced, and any such penalty, forfeiture or punishment may be imposed as if the
repealingActorRegulationhadnotbeenpassed.
________________________
Section6ARepealofActmakingtextualamendmentinActorRegulation

1[6A.RepealofActmakingtextualamendmentinActorRegulation
Whereany2[CentralAct]orRegulationmadeafterthecommencementofthisActrepeals
anyenactmentbywhichthetextofany2[CentralAct]orRegulationwasamendedbythe
express omission, insertion or substitution of any matter, then, unless a different
intention appears, the repeal shall not affect the continuance of any such amendment
madebytheenactmentsorepealedandinoperationatthetimeofsuchrepeal.]
________________________
1.InsertedbyAct19of1936,Section2.
Section7Revivalofrepealedenactments
(1)Inany1[CentralAct]orRegulationmadeafterthecommencementofthisAct,itshall
benecessary,forthepurposeofreviving,eitherwhollyorpartially,anyenactmentwholly
orpartiallyrepealed,expresslytostatethatpurpose.
(2) This section applies also to all 2[Central Acts] made after the third day of January,
1868,andtoallRegulationsmadeonorafterthefourteenthdayofJanuary,1887.
________________________
Section8Constructionofreferencestorepealedenactments

1[(1) Where this Act, or any2[Central Act] or Regulation made after the commencement
ofthisAct,repealsandreenacts,withorwithoutmodification,anyprovisionofaformer
enactment,thenreferencesinanyotherenactmentorinanyinstrumenttotheprovision
sorepealedshall,unlessadifferentintentionappears,beconstruedasreferencestothe
provisionsoreenacted.
3[(2)]4[Where before the fifteenth day of August, 1947, any Act of Parliament of the
United Kingdom repealed and reenacted], with or without modification, any provision of
a former enactment, then reference in any2[Central Act] or in any Regulation or
instrument to the provision so repealed shall, unless a different intention appears, be
construedasreferencestotheprovisionsoreenacted.]
________________________
1. Section 8 renumbered as subsection (1) of that section by Act 18 of 1919, Section 2

andScheduleI.
3.InsertedbyAct18of1919,Section2andScheduleI.
4.SubstitutedbytheA.O.1950,for"WhereanyActofParliamentrepealsandreenacts".
Section9Commencementandterminationoftime
besufficient,forthepurposeofexcludingthefirstinaseriesofdaysoranyotherperiod
of time, to use the word "from", and, for the purpose of including the last in a series of
daysoranyotherperiodoftime,tousetheword"to".
________________________
Section10Computationoftime
(1)Where,byany1[CentralAct]orRegulationmadeafterthecommencementofthisAct,any
actorproceedingisdirectedorallowedtobedoneortakeninanyCourtorofficeonacertain
dayorwithinaprescribedperiod,then,iftheCourtorofficeisclosedonthatdayorthelastday
oftheprescribedperiod,theactorproceedingshallbeconsideredasdoneortakeninduetime
ifitisdoneortakenonthenextdayafterwardsonwhichtheCourtorofficeisopen:
ProvidedthatnothinginthissectionshallapplytoanyactorproceedingtowhichtheIndian
LimitationAct,1877(15of1877)2,applies.
(2)Thissectionappliesalsotoall 3[CentralActs]andRegulationsmadeonorafterthefourteenth
dayofJanuary,1887.
________________________
2.See,theLimitationAct,1963(36of1963).
Section11Measurementofdistances
In the measurement of any distance, for the purposes of any1[Central Act] or Regulation
madeafterthecommencementofthisAct,thatdistanceshall,unlessadifferentintention
appears,bemeasuredinastraightlineonahorizontalplane.
________________________
Section12Dutytobetakenproratainenactments
Where,byanyenactmentnowinforceorhereaftertobeinforce,anydutyofcustomsor
excise,orinthenaturethereof,isleviableonanygivenquantity,byweight,measureorvalueof
anygoodsormerchandise,thenalikedutyisleviableaccordingtothesamerateonanygreater
orlessquantity.
Section13Genderandnumber
Inall 1[CentralActs]andRegulations,unlessthereisanythingrepugnantinthesubjector
context,
(1)wordsimportingthemasculinegendershallbetakentoincludefemalesand
(2)wordsinthesingularshallincludetheplural,andviceversa.
________________________
Section13AReferencestotheSovereign[Repealed]

1[13A.ReferencestotheSovereign
________________________
Section14Powersconferredtobeexercisablefromtimetotime
(1)Where,byany1[CentralAct]orRegulationmadeafterthecommencementofthisAct,
any power is conferred2[* * *], then3[unless a different intention appears] that power
maybeexercisedfromtimetotimeasoccasionrequires.
(2) This section applies also to all 4[Central Acts] and Regulations made on or after the
fourteenthdayofJanuary,1887.
________________________
2.Thewords"ontheGovernment"omittedbyAct18of1919,Section2andScheduleI.
Section15Powertoappointtoincludepowertoappointexofficio
Where, by any1[Central Act] or Regulation, a power to appoint any person to fill any
office or execute any function is conferred, then, unless it is otherwise expressly
provided, any such appointment, if it is made after the commencement of this Act, may
bemadeeitherbynameorbyvirtueofoffice.
________________________
Section16Powertoappointtoincludepowertosuspendordismiss
Where, by any1[Central Act] or Regulation, a power to make any appointment is

conferred, then, unless a different intention appears, the authority having2[for the time
being] power to make the appointment shall also have power to suspend or dismiss any
personappointed2[whetherbyitselforanyotherauthority]inexerciseofthatpower.
________________________
2.SubstitutedbyAct18of1928,Section2andScheduleI,for"byit".
Section17Substitutionoffunctionaries
be sufficient, for the purpose of indicating the application of a law to every person or
numberofpersonsforthetimebeingexecutingthefunctionsofanoffice,tomentionthe
official title of the officer at present executing the functions, or that of the officer by
whomthefunctionsarecommonlyexecuted.
________________________
Section18Successors
be sufficient, for the purpose of indicating the relation of a law to the successors of any
functionariesorofcorporationshavingperpetualsuccession,toexpressitsrelationtothe
functionariesorcorporations.
________________________
Section19Officialchiefsandsubordinates
(1)Inany1[CentralAct)orRegulationmadeafterthecommencementofthisAct,itshall
besufficient,forthepurposeofexpressingthatalawrelativetothechieforsuperiorof
anofficeshallapplytothedeputiesorsubordinateslawfullyperformingthedutiesofthat
officeintheplaceoftheirsuperior,toprescribethedutyofthesuperior.
(2) This section applies also to all1 [Central Act] made after the third day of January,
________________________
Section20Constructionoforders,etc.,issuedunderenactments
Where, by any1[Central Act] or Regulation, a power to issue any2[notification], order,

scheme, rule, form, or byelaw is conferred, then expressions used in the2[notification],
order, scheme, rule, form or byelaw, if it is made after the commencement of this Act,
shall, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context, have the same
respectivemeaningsasintheActorRegulationconferringthepower.
________________________
2.InsertedbyAct1of1903,Section3andScheduleII.
Section21Powertoissue,toincludepowertoaddto,amend,varyorrescind
notifications,orders,rulesorbyelaws
Where,byany1[CentralAct]orRegulationsapowerto2[issuenotifications,]orders,rules
or byelaws is conferred, then that power includes a power, exercisable in the like
mannerandsubjecttothelikesanctionandconditions(ifany),toaddto,amend,varyor
rescindany3[notifications,]orders,rulesorbyelawsso4[issued].
________________________
1.SubstitutedbyA.O.1937,for"ActoftheGovernorGeneralinCouncil".
2.SubstitutedbyAct1of1903,Section3andScheduleII,for"make".
4.SubstitutedbyAct1of1903,Section3andScheduleII,for"make".
Section22Makingofrulesorbyelawsandissuingofordersbetweenpassingand
commencementofenactment
Where, by any1[Central Act] or Regulation which is not to come into force immediately,
onthepassingthereof,apowerisconferredtomakerulesorbyelaws,ortoissueorders
with respect to the application of the Act or Regulation, or with respect to the
establishment of any Court or office or the appointment of any Judge or officer
thereunder,ofwithrespecttothepersonbywhom,orthetimewhen,ortheplacewhere,
or the manner in which, or the fees for which, anything is to be done under the Act or
Regulation,thenthatpowermaybeexercisedatanytimeafterthepassingoftheActor
Regulation but rules, byelaws or orders so made or issued shall not take effect till the
commencementoftheActorRegulation.
________________________
Section23Provisionsapplicabletomakingofrulesorbyelawsafterpreviouspublication
Where, by any1[Central Act] or Regulation, a power to make rules or byelaws is

expressed to be given subject to the condition of the rules or byelaws being made after
previouspublication,thenthefollowingprovisionsshallapply,namely:
(1) the authority having power to make the rules or byelaws shall, before making
them,publishadraftoftheproposedrulesorbyelawsfortheinformationofpersons
likelytobeaffectedthereby
(2) the publication shall be made in such manner as that authority deems to be
sufficient,or,iftheconditionwithrespecttopreviouspublicationsorequires,insuch
mannerasthe2[Governmentconcerned]prescribes
(3)thereshallbepublishedwiththedraftanoticespecifyingadateonorafterwhich
thedraftwillbetakenintoconsideration
(4)theauthorityhavingpowertomaketherulesorbyelaws,and,wheretherulesor
byelaws are to be made with the sanction, approval or concurrence of another
authority,thatauthorityalso,shallconsideranyobjectionorsuggestionwhichmaybe
received by the authority having power to make the rules or byelaws from any
personwithrespecttothedraftbeforethedatesospecified
(5) the publication in the3[Official Gazette] of a rule or byelaw purporting to have

been made in exercise of a power to make rules or byelaws after previous
publicationshallbeconclusiveproofthattheruleorbyelawhasbeendulymade.
________________________
2.SubstitutedbytheA.O.1950,for"CentralGovernmentortheProvincialGovernment".
3.SubstitutedbytheA.O.1937,for"Gazette".
Section24Continuationoforders,etc.,issuedunderenactmentsrepealedandre
enacted
Whereany1[CentralAct]orRegulation,is,afterthecommencementofthisAct,repealed
and reenacted with or without modification, then, unless it is otherwise expressly
providedany2[appointmentnotification,]order,scheme,rule,formorbyelaw, 2[made
or]issuedundertherepealedActorRegulation,shall,sofarasitisnotinconsistentwith
the provisions reenacted, continue in force, and be deemed to have been2 [made or]
issued under the provisions so reenacted, unless and until it is superseded by any2
[appointment notification,] order, scheme, rule, form or byelaw, 2 [made or] issued
undertheprovisionssoreenacted3[andwhenany 1 [Central Act] or Regulation, which,
byanotificationundersection5or5Aofthe4ScheduledDistrictsAct,1874,(14of1874)
or any like law, has been extended to any local area, has, by a subsequent notification,
beenwithdrawnfromthereextendedtosuchareaoranypartthereof,theprovisionsof
such Act or Regulation shall be deemed to have been repealed and reenacted in such
areaorpartwithinthemeaningofthisSection].
________________________
3.InsertedbyAct17of1914,Section2andScheduleI
4.Rep.bytheA.O.1937.
Section25Recoveryoffines
Sections63to70oftheIndianPenalCode(45of1860)andtheprovisionsofthe1Codeof
CriminalProcedureforthetimebeinginforceinrelationtotheissueandtheexecutionof
warrants for the levy of fines shall apply to all fines imposed under any Act, Regulation,
ruleorbyelaw,unlesstheAct,Regulation,ruleorbyelawcontainsanexpressprovision
tothecontrary.
________________________
1.See,theCodeofCriminalProcedure,1973(2of1974).
Section26Provisionastooffencespunishableundertwoormoreenactments

Whereanactoromissionconstitutesanoffenceundertwoormoreenactments,thenthe
offendershallbeliabletobeprosecutedandpunishedundereitheroranyofthoseenactments,
butshallnotbeliabletobepunishedtwiceforthesameoffence.
Section27Meaningofservicebypost
Where any1[Central Act] or Regulation made after the commencement of this Act
authorizes or requires any document to be served by post, whether the expression
"serve" or either of the expressions "give" or "send" or any other expression is used,
then, unless a different intention appears, the service shall be deemed to be effected by
properly addressing, prepaying and posting by registered post, a letter containing the
document,and,unlessthecontraryisproved,tohavebeeneffectedatthetimeatwhich
theletterwouldbedeliveredintheordinarycourseofpost.
________________________
Section28Citationofenactments
(1)Inany1[CentralAct]orRegulation,andinanyrule,byelaw,instrumentordocument,
madeunder,orwithreferencetoanysuchActorRegulation,anyenactmentmaybecited
by reference to the title or short title (if any) conferred thereon or by reference to the
numberandyearthereof,andanyprovisioninanenactmentmaybecitedbyreferenceto
thesectionorsubsectionoftheenactmentinwhichtheprovisioniscontained.
(2) In this Act and in any1[Central Act] or Regulation made after the commencement of
this Act, a description or citation of a portion of another enactment shall, unless a
different intention appears, be construed as including the word, section or other part
mentionedorreferredtoasformingthebeginningandasformingtheendoftheportion
comprisedinthedescriptionorcitation.
________________________
Section29Savingforpreviousenactments,rulesandbyelaws

TheprovisionsofthisActrespectingtheconstructionofActs,Regulations,rulesorbyelaws
madeafterthecommencementofthisActshallnotaffecttheconstructionofanyAct,
Regulation,ruleorbyelawmadebeforethecommencementofthisAct,althoughtheAct,
Regulation,ruleorbyelawiscontinuedoramendedbyanAct,Regulation,ruleorbyelawmade
afterthecommencementofthisAct.
Section30ApplicationofActtoOrdinances

1[30.ApplicationofActtoOrdinances
InthisActtheexpression2[CentralAct],whereveritoccurs,exceptinsection5andthe
word "Act" in3 [clauses (9), (13), (25), (40), (43), (52) and (54)] of section 3 and in
section 25 shall be deemed to include an Ordinance made and promulgated by the
Governor General under section 23 of the Indian Councils Act, 1861 (24 and 25 Vict.,
c.67)4[orsection72oftheGovernmentofIndiaAct,1915,](5and6Geo.V.c,61)5[or
section 42 6 [* * *] of the Government of India Act, 1935] (26 Geo. V. c. 2)7 [and an
OrdinancepromulgatedbythePresidentunderarticle123oftheConstitution.]
________________________
3.SubstitutedbytheA.O.1950,for"clauses(9),(12),(38),(48)and(50)".
5.InsertedbytheA.O.1937.
6.Thewordsandfigures"orsection43"omittedbytheA.O.1947.
7.AddedbytheA.O.1950.
Section30AApplicationofActtoActsmadebytheGovernorGeneral[Repealed]
1[30A.ApplicationofActtoActsmadebytheGovernorGeneral
________________________
Section31ConstructionofreferencestoLocalGovernmentofaProvince[Repealed]

1[31.ConstructionofreferencestoLocalGovernmentofaProvince
________________________
ScheduleITHESCHEDULE[EnactmentsRepealed]
THESCHEDULE
Enactmentsrepealed
[Rep.bytheRepealingandAmendingAct.,1903(1of1903),Section4andScheduleIII]

General Clauses Act 1897

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

General Clauses Act 1897

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

General Clauses Act 1897

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

4/1/2016 GENERALCLAUSESACT1897

Laccadive, Minicoy and Amindivi Islands by Regulation 8 of 1965, Section3 and

(4) "barrister" shall mean a barrister of England or Ireland, or a member of the

(a) in relation to anything done before the commencement of the Constitution,

(ii) in relation to the administration of a Chief Commissioner's Province, the

(b) in relation to anything done or to be done after the commencement of the

(ii) in relation to the administration of a Part C State 5 [before the

5 [(iii) in relation to the administration of a Union territory, the administrator

(14) "Commissioner" shall mean the chief officerincharge of the revenue

(16) "Consular officer" shall include consulgeneral, consul, viceconsul, consular

(24) "Government securities" shall mean securities of the Central Government or of

(27) "imprisonment" shall mean imprisonment of either description as defined in the

(45) "Province" shall mean a Presidency, a Governor's Province, a Lieutenant

(49) "registered", used with reference to a document, shall mean registered in 13

(b) as respects anything done 16 [after the commencement of the Constitution2

5 [(c) as respects anything done or to be done after the commencement of the

(65) expressions referring to "writing" shall be construed as including references to

(3)Unlessthecontraryisexpressed,a4[Central Act] or Regulation shall be construed as

1. Section 8 renumbered as subsection (1) of that section by Act 18 of 1919, Section 2

Where, by any1[Central Act] or Regulation, a power to make any appointment is

Where, by any1[Central Act] or Regulation, a power to issue any2[notification], order,

Where, by any1[Central Act] or Regulation, a power to make rules or byelaws is

(5) the publication in the3[Official Gazette] of a rule or byelaw purporting to have

You might also like