In what way is ‘Heading and Title of a Chapter' considered as internal aid in the interpretation of statutes.

CA Intermediate · Corporate and Other Laws · MTP · May 2024
In what way is ‘Heading and Title of a Chapter' considered as internal aid in the interpretation of statutes.

Suggested Answer and Working Notes:

If we glance through any Act, we would generally find that a number of its sections referring to a particular subject are grouped together, sometimes in the form of chapters, prefixed by headings and/or Titles. These Heading and Titles prefixed to sections or groups of sections can legitimately be referred to for the purpose of construing the enactment or its parts. The headings of different portions of a Statute can be referred to determine the sense of any doubtful expression in a section ranged under any particular heading. They cannot control the plain meaning of the words of the enactment though, they may, in some cases be looked at in the light of preamble if there is any ambiguity in the meaning of the sections on which they can throw light. It may be noted that headings may sometimes be referred to know the scope of a section in the same way as the preamble. But a heading cannot control or override a section.

Topics: Interpretation of Statutes

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