The General Clauses Act, 1897
SECTIONS

1. Short title.

2. [Repealed.].

3. Definitions.


# THE GENERAL CLAUSES ACT, 1897

_________

# ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

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PRELIMINARY

GENERAL DEFINITIONS


4. Application of foregoing definitions to previous enactments.

4A. Application of certain definitions to Indian Laws.

GENERAL RULES OF CONSTRUCTION

5. Coming into operation of enactments.

5A. [Repealed.].

6. Effect of repeal.

6A. Repeal of Act making textual amendment in Act or Regulation.

7. Revival of repealed enactments.

8. Construction of references to repealed enactments.

9. Commencement and termination of time.

10. Computation of time.

11. Measurement of distances.

12. Duty to be taken pro rata in enactments.

13. Gender and number.

13A. [Repealed.].

POWERS AND FUNCTIONARIES

14. Powers conferred to be exercisable from time to time.

15. Power to appoint to include power to appoint ex officio.

16. Power to appoint to include power to suspend or dismiss.

17. Substitution of functionaries.

18. Successors.

19. Official chiefs and subordinates.

PROVISIONS AS TO ORDERS, RULES, ETC., MADE UNDER ENACTMENTS

20. Construction of orders, etc., issued under enactments.

21. Power to issue, to include power to add to, amend, vary or rescind notifications, orders, rules or

bye-laws.

22. Making of rules or bye-laws and issuing of orders between passing and commencement of

enactment.


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SECTIONS

23. Provisions applicable to making of rules or bye-laws after previous publication.

24. Continuation of orders, etc., issued under enactments repealed and re-enacted.

MISCELLANEOUS

25. Recovery of fines.

26. Provision as to offences punishable under two or more enactments.

27. Meaning of service by post.

28. Citation of enactments.

29. Saving for previous enactments, rules and bye-laws.

30. Application of Act to Ordinances.

30A. [Repealed.].

31. [Repealed.].

THE SCHEDULE.—[Repealed.].


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# THE GENERAL CLAUSES ACT, 1897
 ACT NO. 10 OF 1897[1]

 An Act to consolidate and extend the General Clauses Act, 1868 and 1887.



[11th March, 1897.]


WHEREAS it is expedient to consolidate and extend the General Clauses Acts, 1868 (1 of 1868) and

1887 (1 of 1887); it is hereby enacted as follows:—

PRELIMINARY

**1. Short title.—(1) This Act may be called the General Clauses Act, 1897; [2]*****

3*  -  -  -  
**2. [Repeal.] Rep by the Repealing and Amending Act, 1903 (1 of 1903), s. 4 and the Third Schedule.**

GENERAL DEFINITIONS

4[3. Definitions.—In this Act, and in all Central Acts and Regulations made after the commencement

of this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,—

(1) “abet”, with its grammatical variations and cognate expressions, shall have the same meaning

as in the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860);

(2) “act”, used with reference to an offence or a civil wrong, shall include a series of acts, and

words which refer to acts done extend also to illegal omissions;

(3) “affidavit” shall include affirmation and declaration in the case of persons by law allowed to

affirm or declare instead of swearing;

(4) “barrister” shall mean a barrister of England or Ireland, or a member of the Faculty of

Advocates in Scotland;

(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 Governor General of India, and as respects any period after
that date and before the 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 before the commencement of
Part III of the Government of India Act, 1935, shall not include a reference to Berar;

1. For Report of the Select Committee, see Gazette of India, Pt. V, p.77, and for Proceedings in Council see Gazette of India,

Pt.VI, pp. 35, 40, 56 and 76.

This Act has been declared to be in force in the Santhal Parganas by the Santhal Parganas Settlement Regulation, 1872

(3 of 1872), s. 3; in Panth Piploda by the Panth Piploda Laws Regulation, 1929 (1 of 1929), s. 2; in Khondmals District by the
Khondmals Laws Regulation, 1936 (4 of 1936), s. 3 and the Schedule; and in the Angul District by the Angul Laws
Regulation, 1936 (5 of 1936), s. 3 and the Schedule

The Act has been partially extended to Berar by the Berar Laws Act, 1941 (4 of 1941) and to the new Provinces and

Merged States by the Merged States (Laws) Act, 1949 (59 of 1949).

The Act has been extended to—

Goa, Daman and Diu with modifications by Regulation 12 of 1962, s. 3 and the Schedule;
Dadra and Nagar Haveli by Regulation 6 of 1963, s. 2 and the First Schedule;
Pondicherry by Regulation 7 of 1963, s. 3 and the First Schedule; and
Laccadive, Minicoy and Amindivi Islands by Regulation 8 of 1965, s. 3 and Schedule
Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir and Union territory of Ladakh by Act 34 of 2019, s. 95 and the fifth schedule

(w.e.f. 31-10-2019).
It has been amended in Assam by the Assam Commissioners’ Powers Distribution Act, 1939 (Assam Act 1 of 1939).

2. The word “and” rep. by Act 10 of 1914, s. 3 and the Second Schedule.
3. Sub-section (2) rep. by s. 3 and the Second Schedule, ibid.
4. Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for section 3.


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(6) “British possession” shall mean any part of Her Majesty’s dominions exclusive of the United

Kingdom, and where parts of those dominions are under both a Central and a Local Legislature, all
parts under the Central Legislature shall, for the purposes of this definition, be deemed to be one
British possession;

(7) “Central Act” shall means an Act of Parliament, and shall include—

(a) an Act of the Dominion Legislature or of the Indian Legislature passed before the

commencement of the Constitution, and

(b) an Act made before such commencement by the Governor General in Council or the

Governor General, acting in a legislative capacity;

(8) “Central Government” 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 be; and shall include,—

(i) in relation to functions entrusted under sub-section (1) of section 124 of the

Government of India Act, 1935, to the Government of a Province, the Provincial Government
acting within the scope of the authority given to it under that subsection; and

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

Commissioner acting within the scope of the authority given to him under sub-section (3)
of section 94 of the said Act; and

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

mean the President; and shall include,—

(i) in relation to functions entrusted under clause (1) of article 258 of the Constitution, to

the Government of a State, the State Government acting within the scope of the authority
given to it under that clause; [1]***

(ii) in relation to the administration of a Part C State [2][before the commencement of the

Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956], 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 case may be; [2][and

(iii) in relation to the administration of a Union territory, the administrator thereof acting

within the scope of the authority given to him under article 239 of the Constitution];

(9) “Chapter” shall mean a Chapter of the Act or Regulation in which the word occurs;

(10) “Chief Controlling Revenue Authority” or “Chief Revenue Authority” shall mean—

(a) in a State where there is a Board of Revenue, that Board;

(b) in a State where there is a Revenue Commissioner, that Commissioner;

(c) in Punjab, the Financial Commissioner; and

(d) elsewhere, such authority as, in relation to matters enumerated in List I in the 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” shall mean, in a Presidency-town, the Collector of Calcutta, Madras or Bombay,

as the case may be, and elsewhere the chief officer-in-charge of the revenue-administration of a
district;

(12) “Colony”—

(a) in any Central Act passed after the commencement of Part III of the Government of India

Act, 1935, shall mean any part of His Majesty’s dominions exclusive of the British Islands, the

1. The word “and” omitted by the Adaptation of Laws (No. 1) Order, 1956.
2. Ins., ibid.


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Dominions of India and Pakistan (and before the establishment of those Dominions, British
India), any Dominions as defined in the Statute of Westminister, 1931, any Province or State
forming part of any of the said Dominions, and British Burma; and

(b) in any Central Act passed before the commencement of Part III of the said Act, mean any

part of His Majesty’s dominions exclusive of the British Islands and of British India;

and in either case where parts of those dominions are under both a Central and Local Legislature, all
parts under the Central Legislature shall, for the purposes of this definition, be deemed to be one
colony.

(13) “Commencement” used with reference to an Act or Regulation, shall mean the day on which

the Act or Regulation comes into force;

(14) “Commissioner” shall mean the chief officer-in-charge of the revenue administration of a

division;

(15) “Constitution” shall mean the Constitution of India;

(16) “Consular officer” shall include consul-general, consul, vice-consul, consular agent, pro
consul and any person for the time being authorised to perform the duties of consul-general, consul,
vice-consul or consular agent;

(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 extraordinary original civil
jurisdiction;

(18) “document” shall include any matter written, expressed or described upon any substance by

means of letters, figures or marks, or by more than one of those means which is intended to be used,
or which may be used, for the purpose of recording that 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 provision contained in any Act or in any
such Regulation as aforesaid;

(20) “father”, in the case of any one whose personal law permits adoption, shall include an

adoptive father;

(21) “financial year” shall mean the year commencing on the first day of April;

(22) a thing shall be deemed to be done in “good faith” where it is in fact done honestly, whether

it is done negligently or not;

(23) “Government” or “the Government” shall include both the Central Government and any

State Government;

(24) “Government securities” shall mean securities of the Central Government or of any State

Government, but in any Act or Regulation made before the commencement of the Constitution shall
not include securities of the Government of any Part B State;

(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 the Act or Regulation
containing the expression operates;

(26) “immovable property” shall include land, benefits to arise out of land, and things attached to

the earth, or permanently fastened to anything attached to the earth;

(27) “imprisonment” shall mean imprisonment of either description as defined in the Indian Penal

Code (45 of 1860);

(28) “India” shall mean,—

(a) as respects any period before the establishment of the Dominion of India, British India

together with all territories of Indian Rulers then under the suzerainty of His Majesty, all
territories under the suzerainty of such an Indian Ruler, and the tribal areas;


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(b) as respects any period after the establishment of the Dominion of India and before the

commencement of the Constitution, all territories for the time being included in that Dominion;
and

(c) as respects any period after the commencement of the Constitution, all territories for the

time being comprised in the territory of India;

(29) “Indian law” shall mean any Act, Ordinance, Regulation, rule, order, bye-law or other

instrument which before the commencement of the Constitution, had the force of law in any Province
of India or part thereof, or thereafter has the force of law 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 made under such Act;

(30) “Indian State” shall mean any territory which the Central Government recognised as such a

State before the commencement of the Constitution, whether described as a State, an Estate, a Jagir
or otherwise;

(31) “local authority” shall mean a municipal committee, district board, body of port

Commissioners or other authority legally entitled to, or entrusted by the Government with, the control
or management of a municipal or local fund;

(32) “Magistrate” shall include every person exercising all or any of the powers of a Magistrate

under the Code of Criminal Procedure for the time being in force;

(33) “master”, used with reference to a ship, shall mean, any person (except a pilot or harbour
master) having for the time being control or charge of the ship;

(34) “merged territories" shall mean the territories which by virtue of an order made under section

290A of the Government of India Act, 1935, were immediately before the commencement of the
Constitution being administered as if they formed part of a Governor's Province or as if they were a
Chief Commissioner's Province;

(35) “month” shall mean a month reckoned according to the British calendar;

(36) “movable property” shall mean property of every description, except immovable property;

(37) “oath” shall include affirmation and declaration in the case of persons by law allowed to

affirm or declare instead of swearing;

(38) “offence” shall mean any act or omission made punishable by any law for the time being in

force;

(39) “official Gazette” or “Gazette” shall mean the Gazette of India or the Official Gazette of a

State;

(40) “Part” shall mean a part of the Act or Regulation in which the word occurs;

(41) “Part A State” shall mean a State for the time being specified in Part A of the First Schedule

to the Constitution, [1][as in force before the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956,] “Part B
State” shall mean a State for the time being specified 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 the President under the provisions of article 243 of the Constitution;

(42) “person” shall include any company or association or body of individuals, whether

incorporated or not;

(43) “Political Agent” shall mean,—

(a) in relation to any territory outside India, the Principal Officer, by whatever name called,

representing the Central Government in such territory; and

(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 Government to exercise all or
any of the powers of a Political Agent under that Act or Regulation;

1. Ins. by the Adaptation of Laws (No. 1) Order, 1956.


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(44) “Presidency-town” 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, as the case may be;

(45) “Province” shall mean a Presidency, a Governor’s Province, a Lieutenant Governor’s

Province or a Chief Commissioner's Province;

(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 Local Legislature or the Governor of a
Province under the Government of India Act, or an Act made by the Provincial Legislature or
Governor of a Province or the Coorg Legislative Council under the Government of India Act, 1935;

(47) “Provincial Government” shall mean, as respects anything done before the commencement

of the Constitution, the authority or person authorised at the relevant date to administer executive
Government in the Province in question;

(48) “public nuisance” shall mean a public nuisance as defined in the Indian Penal Code (45 of

1860);

(49) “registered”, used with reference to a document, shall mean registered in [1][India] under the

law for the time being in force for the registration of documents;

(50) “Regulation” shall mean a Regulation made by the President [2][under article 240 of the

Constitution and shall include a Regulation made by the President under article 243 thereof and] a
Regulation made by the Central Government under the Government of India Act, 1870, or the
Government of India Act, 1915, or the Government of India Act, 1935;

(51) “rule” shall mean a rule made in exercise of a power conferred by any enactment, and shall

include a Regulation made as a rule under any enactment;

(52) “schedule” shall mean a schedule to the Act or Regulation in which the word occurs;

(53) “Scheduled District” shall mean a “Scheduled District” as defined in the Scheduled Districts

Act, 1874;

(54) “section” shall mean a section of the Act or Regulation in which the word occurs;

(55) “ship” shall include every description of vessel used in navigation not exclusively propelled

by oars;

(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 grammatical variations and cognate
expressions;

(57) “son”, in the case of any one whose personal law permits adoption, shall include an adopted

son;

3[(58) “State”—

(a) as respects any period before the commencement of the Constitution (Seventh

Amendment) Act, 1956, shall mean a Part A State, a Part B State or a Part C State; and

(b) as respects any period after such commencement, shall mean a State specified in the First

Schedule to the Constitution and shall include a Union territory;]

(59) “State Act” shall mean an Act passed by the Legislature of a State established or continued

by the Constitution;

(60) “State Government”,—

(a) as respects anything done before the commencement of the Constitution, shall mean, in a

Part A State, the Provincial Government of the corresponding Province, in a Part B State, the

1. Subs. by the Adaptation of Laws (No. 1) Order, 1956 for “a Part A State or a Part C State”.
2. Subs., ibid., for “under article 243 of the Constitution, and shall include”.
3. Subs., ibid., for clause (58).


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authority or person authorised at the relevant date to exercise executive government in the
corresponding Acceding State, and in a Part C State, the Central Government; [1]***

(b) as respects anything done [2][after the commencement of the Constitution and before the

commencement of the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956], shall mean, in a Part A
State, the Governor, in a Part B State, the Rajpramukh, and in a Part C State, the Central
Government;

3[(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, and in a Union territory,
the Central Government;

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 authority given to it under
that article];

(61) “sub-section” shall mean a sub-section of the section in which the word occurs;

(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 instead of swearing;

3[(62A) “Union territory” shall mean any Union territory specified in the First Schedule to the

Constitution and shall include any other territory comprised within the territory of India but not
specified in that Schedule;]

(63) “vessel” shall include any ship or boat or any other description of vessel used in navigation;

(64) “will” shall include a codicil and every writing making a voluntary posthumous disposition

of property;

(65) expressions referring to “writing” shall be construed as including references to printing,

lithography, photography and other modes of representing or reproducing words in a visible form;
and

(66) “year” shall mean a year reckoned according to the British calendar.]

**4. Application of foregoing definitions to previous enactments.—(1) The definitions in section 3 of**

the following words and expressions, that is to say, “affidavit”, “barrister”, [4]*** “District Judge”,
“father”, [5]***, [6]***, [7]*** “immovable property”, “imprisonment”, [8]*** “Magistrate”, “month”, “movable
“movable property”, “oath”, “person”, “section”, “son”, “swear”, “will”, and “year” apply also, unless
there is anything repugnant in the subject or context, to all [9][Central Acts] made after the third day of
January, 1868, and to all Regulations made on or after the fourteenth day of 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”, “sub-section” and “writing” apply also, unless there is
anything repugnant in the subject or context, to all [9][Central Acts] and Regulations made on or after the
fourteenth day of January, 1887.

1. The word “and” omitted by the Adaptation of Laws (No. 1) Order, 1956.
2. Subs., ibid., for “or to be done after the commencement of the Constitution”.
3. Ins., ibid.
4. The words “British India” omitted by the A.O. 1937.
5. The words “Government of India” omitted, ibid.
6. The words “Her Majesty” or “the Queen” rep. by Act 18 of 1919, s. 3 and the Second Schedule.
7. The words “High Court” omitted by the A.O. 1937.
8. The words “Local Government” omitted, ibid.
9. Subs., ibid., for “Acts of the Governor-General in Council”.


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1[4A. Application of certain definitions to Indian Laws.—(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”, “Indian Law”, “Indian State”, “merged territories”, “Official Gazette”,
“Part A State”, “Part B State”, “Part C State”, Provincial Government”, “State” and “State Government”
shall apply, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context, to all Indian laws.

(2) In any Indian law, references, by whatever form of words, to revenues of the Central Government

or of any State Government shall, on and from the first day of April, 1950, be construed as references to
the Consolidated Fund of India or the Consolidated Fund of the State, as the case may be.]

GENERAL RULES OF CONSTRUCTION

**5. Coming into operation of enactments.—[2][(1) Where any Central Act is not expressed to come**

into operation on a particular day, then it shall come into operation on the day on which it receives the
assent,—

(a) in the case of a Central Act made before the commencement of the Constitution, of the

Governor-General, and

(b) in the case of an Act of Parliament, of the President.]

3*  -  -  -  
(3) Unless the contrary is expressed, a [4][Central Act] or Regulation shall be construed as coming into

operation immediately on the expiration of the day preceding its commencement.

**5A. [Coming into operation of Governor-General’s Act.]** _Rep. by the A.O. 1947._ _Earlier it was_

_inserted by A.O. 1937._

**6. Effect of repeal.—Where this Act, or any** [4][Central Act] or Regulation made after the

commencement of this Act, repeals any enactment hitherto made or hereafter to be made, then, unless a
different intention appears, the repeal shall not-
(a) revive anything not in force or existing at the time at which the repeal takes effect; or

(b) affect the previous operation of any enactment so repealed or anything duly done or suffered

thereunder; or

(c) affect any right, privilege, obligation or liability acquired, accrued or incurred under any

enactment so repealed; or

(d) affect any penalty, forfeiture or punishment incurred in respect of any offence committed

against any enactment so repealed; or

(e) affect any investigation, legal proceeding or remedy in respect of any such right, privilege,

obligation, liability, penalty, forfeiture or punishment as aforesaid;

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 repealing Act or Regulation had not been
passed.

5[6A. Repeal of Act making textual amendment in Act or Regulation.—Where any 4[Central Act]

or Regulation made after the commencement of this Act repeals any enactment by which the text of any
4[Central Act] or Regulation was amended by the 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 made by the enactment so repealed and in operation at the time of such repeal.]

1. Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for section 4A which was earlier inserted by the A.O. 1937.
2. Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for sub-section (1).
3. Sub-section (2) omitted, ibid.
4. Subs. by the A.O. 1937, for “Act of the Governor-General in Council”.
5. Ins. by Act 19 of 1936, s. 2.


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**7. Revival of repealed enactments.—(1) In any** [1][Central Act] or Regulation made after the

commencement of this Act, it shall be necessary, for the purpose of reviving, either wholly or partially,
any enactment wholly or partially repealed, expressly to state that purpose.

(2) This section applies also to all [2][Central Acts] made after the third day of January, 1868, and to all

Regulations made on or after the fourteenth day of January, 1887.

**8. Construction of references to repealed enactments.—[3][(1)] Where this Act, or any** [1][Central

Act] or Regulation made after the commencement of this Act, repeals and re-enacts, with or without
modification, any provision of a former enactment, then references in any other enactment or in any
instrument to the provision so repealed shall, unless a different intention appears, be construed as
references to the provision so re-enacted.

4[(2) 5[Where before the fifteenth day of August, 1947, any Act of Parliament of the United Kingdom

repealed and re-enacted], with or without modification, any provision of a former enactment, then
reference in any [1][Central Act] or in any Regulation or instrument to the provision so repealed shall,
unless a different intention appears, be construed as references to the provision so re-enacted.]

**9. Commencement and termination of time.—(1) In any** [1][Central Act] or Regulation made after

the commencement of this Act, it shall be sufficient, for the purpose of excluding the first in a series of
days or any other period of time, to use the word “from”, and, for the purpose of including the last in a
series of days or any other period of time, to use the word “to”.

(2) This section applies also to all [2][Central Acts] made after the third day of January, 1868, and to all

Regulations made on or after the fourteenth day of January, 1887.

**10. Computation of time.—(1) Where, by any** [1][Central Act] or Regulation made after the

commencement of this Act, any act or proceeding is directed or allowed to be done or taken in any Court
or office on a certain day or within a prescribed period, then, if the Court or office is closed on that day or
the last day of the prescribed period, the act or proceeding shall be considered as done or taken in due
time if it is done or taken on the next day afterwards on which the Court or office is open:

Provided that nothing in this section shall apply to any act or proceeding to which the [6]Indian

Limitation Act, 1877 (15 of 1877), applies.

(2) This section applies also to all [2][Central Acts] and Regulations made on or after the fourteenth day

of January, 1887.

**11. Measurement of distances.—In the measurement of any distance, for the purposes of any**

1[Central Act] or Regulation made after the commencement of this Act, that distance shall, unless a
different intention appears, be measured in a straight line on a horizontal plane.

**12. Duty to be taken pro rata in enactments.—Where, by any enactment now in force or hereafter**

to be in force, any duty of customs or excise, or in the nature thereof, is leviable on any given quantity, by
weight, measure or value of any goods or merchandise, then a like duty is leviable according to the same
rate on any greater or less quantity.

**13. Gender and number.—In all [2][Central Acts] and Regulations, unless there is anything repugnant**

in the subject or context,—

(1) words importing the masculine gender shall be taken to include females; and

(2) words in the singular shall include the plural, and vice versa.

413A. [References to the Sovereign.] Rep. by the A.O. 1950.

1. Subs. by the A.O. 1937, for “Acts of the Governor-General in Council”.
2. Subs., ibid., for “Acts of the Governor-General in Council”.
3. Section 8 renumbered as sub-section (1) thereof by Act 18 of 1919, s. 2 and the First Schedule.
4. Ins. by s. 2 and the First Schedule, ibid.
5. Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for “Where any Act of Parliament repeals and re-enacts”.
6. See now the Limitation Act, 1963 (36 of 1963).


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POWERS AND FUNCTIONARIES

**14. Powers conferred to be exercisable from time to time.—(1) Where, by any** [1][Central Act] or

Regulation made after the commencement of this Act, any power is conferred [2]***, then [3][unless a
different intention appears] that power may be exercised from time to time as occasion requires.

(2) This section applies also to all [4][Central Acts] and Regulations made on or after the fourteenth day

day of January, 1887.

**15. Power to appoint to include power to appoint** **_ex officio.—Where, by any_** [1][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 be made either by name or by virtue of office.

**16. Power to appoint to include power to suspend or dismiss.—Where, by any** [1][Central Act] or

Regulation, a power to make any appointment is conferred, then, unless a different intention appears, the
authority having [5][for the time being] power to make the appointment shall also have power to suspend or
or dismiss any person appointed [6][whether by itself or any other authority] in exercise of that power.

**17. Substitution of functionaries.—(1) In any** [1][Central Act] or Regulation made after the

commencement of this Act, it shall be sufficient, for the purpose of indicating the application of a law to
every person or number of persons for the time being executing the functions of an office, to mention the
official title of the officer at present executing the functions, or that of the officer by whom the functions
are commonly executed.

(2) This section applies also to all [4][Central Acts] made after the third day of January, 1868, and to all

Regulations made on or after the fourteenth day of January, 1887.

**18. Successors.—(1) In any [1][Central Act] or Regulation made after the commencement of this Act, it**

shall be sufficient, for the purpose of indicating the relation of a law to the successors of any functionaries
or of corporations having perpetual succession, to express its relation to the functionaries or corporations.

(2) This section applies also to all [4][Central Acts] made after the third day of January, 1868, and to all

Regulations made on or after the fourteenth day of January, 1887.

**19. Official chiefs and subordinates.—(1) In any [1][Central Act] or Regulation made after the**

commencement of this Act, it shall be sufficient, for the purpose of expressing that a law relative to the
chief or superior of an office shall apply to the deputies or subordinates lawfully performing the duties of
that office in the place of their superior, to prescribe the duty of the superior.

(2) This section applies also to all [4][Central Acts] made after the third day of January, 1868, and to all

Regulations made on or after the fourteenth day of January, 1887.

PROVISIONS AS TO ORDERS, RULES, ETC., MADE UNDER ENACTMENTS

**20. Construction of orders, etc., issued under enactments.—Where, by any** [1][Central Act] or

Regulation, a power to issue any [7][notification], order, scheme, rule, form, or bye-law is conferred, then
expressions used in the [7][notification], order, scheme, rule, form or bye-law, if it is made after the
commencement of this Act, shall, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context, have the
same respective meanings as in the Act or Regulation conferring the power.

1. Subs. by the A.O. 1937, for “Act of the Governor General in Council”.
2. The words “on the Government” omitted by Act 18 of 1919, s. 2 and the First Schedule.
3. Ins. by s. 2 and the First Schedule, ibid.
4. Subs. by the A.O. 1937, for “Acts of the Governor General in Council”.
5. Ins. by Act 18 of 1928, s. 2 and the First Schedule.
6. Subs. by s. 2 and the First Schedule, ibid., for “by it”.
7. Ins. by Act 1 of 1903, s. 3 and the Second Schedule.


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**21. Power to issue, to include power to add to, amend, vary or rescind notifications, orders,**

**rules or bye-laws.—Where, by any** [1][Central Act] or Regulations a power to [2][issue notifications,]
orders, rules or bye-laws is conferred, then that power includes a power, exercisable in the like manner
and subject to the like sanction and conditions (if any), to add to, amend, vary or rescind any
3[notifications,] orders, rules or bye-laws so 4[issued].

**22. Making of rules or bye-laws and issuing of orders between passing and commencement of**

**enactment.—Where, by any** [1][Central Act] or Regulation which is not to come into force immediately,
on the passing thereof, a power is conferred to make rules or bye-laws, or to issue orders 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, of with respect to the person by whom, or the time when,
or the place where, or the manner in which, or the fees for which, anything is to be done under the Act or
Regulation, then that power may be exercised at any time after the passing of the Act or Regulation; but
rules, bye-laws or orders so made or issued shall not take effect till the commencement of the Act or
Regulation.

**23. Provisions applicable to making of rules or bye-laws after previous publication.—Where, by**

any [1][Central Act] or Regulation, a power to make rules or bye-laws is expressed to be given subject to
the condition of the rules or bye-laws being made after previous publication, then the following
provisions shall apply, namely:—

(1) the authority having power to make the rules or bye-laws shall, before making them, publish a

draft of the proposed rules or bye-laws for the information of persons likely to be affected thereby;

(2) the publication shall be made in such manner as that authority deems to be sufficient, or, if the

condition with respect to previous publication so requires, in such manner as the [5][Government
concerned] prescribes;

(3) there shall be published with the draft a notice specifying a date on or after which the draft

will be taken into consideration;

(4) the authority having power to make the rules or bye-laws, and, where the rules or bye-laws are

to be made with the sanction, approval or concurrence of another authority, that authority also, shall
consider any objection or suggestion which may be received by the authority having power to make
the rules or bye-laws from any person with respect to the draft before the date so specified;

(5) the publication in the [6][Official Gazette] of a rule or bye-law purporting to have been made in

exercise of a power to make rules or bye-laws after previous publication shall be conclusive proof
that the rule or bye-law has been duly made.


**24. Continuation of orders, etc., issued under enactments repealed and re-enacted.—Where**

any [1][Central Act] or Regulation, is, after the commencement of this Act, repealed and re-enacted with or
without modification, then, unless it is otherwise expressly provided any [3][appointment notification,]
order, scheme, rule, form or bye-law,[ 3][made or] issued under the repealed Act or Regulation, shall, so far
as it is not inconsistent with the provisions re-enacted, continue in force, and be deemed to have
been [3][made or] issued under the provisions so re-enacted, unless and until it is superseded by
any [3][appointment notification,] order, scheme, rule, form or bye-law, [3][made or] issued under the
provisions so re-enacted [7][and when any [1][Central Act] or Regulation, which, by a notification under
section 5 or 5A of the [8]Scheduled Districts Act, 1874, (14 of 1874) or any like law, has been extended to
any local area, has, by a subsequent notification, been withdrawn from the re-extended to such area or any
part thereof, the provisions of such Act or Regulation shall be deemed to have been repealed and
re-enacted in such area or part within the meaning of this section].

1. Subs. by the A.O. 1937, for “Act of the Governor General in Council”.
2. Subs. by Act 1 of 1903, s. 3 and the Second Schedule, for “make”.
3. Ins. by s. 3 and the Second Schedule, ibid.
4. Subs. by s. 3 and the Second Schedule, ibid., for “made”.
5. Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for “Central Government or the Provincial Government”.
6. Subs. by the A.O. 1937, for “Gazette”.
7. Ins. by Act 17 of 1914, s. 2 and the First Schedule.
8. Rep. by the A.O. 1937.


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MISCELLANEOUS

**25. Recovery of fines.—Sections 63 to 70 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860) and the provisions**

of the [1]Code of Criminal Procedure for the time being in force in relation to the issue and the execution of
warrants for the levy of fines shall apply to all fines imposed under any Act, Regulation, rule or bye-law,
unless the Act, Regulation, rule or bye-law contains an express provision to the contrary.

**26. Provision as to offences punishable under two or more enactments.—Where an act or**

omission constitutes an offence under two or more enactments, then the offender shall be liable to be
prosecuted and punished under either or any of those enactments, but shall not be liable to be punished
twice for the same offence.

**27. Meaning of service by post.—Where any** [2][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,
pre-paying and posting by registered post, a letter containing the document, and, unless the contrary is
proved, to have been effected at the time at which the letter would be delivered in the ordinary course of
post.

**28. Citation of enactments.—(1) In any** [2][Central Act] or Regulation, and in any rule, bye-law,

instrument or document, made under, or with reference to any such Act or Regulation, any enactment
may be cited by reference to the title or short title (if any) conferred thereon or by reference to the number
and year thereof, and any provision in an enactment may be cited by reference to the section or subsection of the enactment in which the provision is contained.

(2) In this Act and in any [2][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 mentioned or referred to as forming the beginning
and as forming the end of the portion comprised in the description or citation.

**29. Saving for previous enactments, rules and bye-laws.—The provisions of this Act respecting the**

construction of Acts, Regulations, rules or bye-laws made after the commencement of this Act shall not
affect the construction of any Act, Regulation, rule or bye-law made before the commencement of this
Act, although the Act, Regulation, rule or bye-law is continued or amended by an Act, Regulation, rule or
bye-law made after the commencement of this Act.

3[30. Application of Act to Ordinances.—In this Act the expression 2[Central Act], wherever it

occurs, except in section 5 and the word “Act” in [4][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 [5][or section 72 of the Government of
of India Act, 1915,] [6][or section 42 [7]*** of the Government of India Act, 1935] [8][and an Ordinance
promulgated by the President under article 123 of the Constitution].]

**30A.** [Application of Act to Acts made by the Governor-General.] _Rep. by the A.O. 1937._ _Earlier_

_Inserted by Act 11 of 1923, s. 2 and the First Schedule._

1. See, the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974).
2. Subs. by the A.O. 1937, for “Act of the Governor General in Council”.
3. Ins. by Act 17 of 1914, s. 2 and the First Schedule.
4. Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for “clauses (9), (12), (38), (48) and (50)”.
5. Ins. by Act 24 of 1917, s. 2 and the First Schedule.
6. Ins. by the A.O. 1937.
7. The words and figures “or section 43” omitted by the A.O. 1947.
8. Added by the A.O. 1950.


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**31. [Construction of references to Local Government of a Province.] Rep. by the A.O. 1937. Earlier**

_Inserted by Act 31 of 1920, s. 2 and the First Schedule._

_THE SCHEDULE.—[Enactments repealed.]_ _Rep. by the Repealing and Amending Act, 1903 (1_ _of_

1903), s. 4 and the Third Schedule.


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