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CA Intermediate · Corporate and Other Laws · Interpretation of Statutes

A statute lists 'cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and other animals' as animals that may not be grazed on a common land. Ravi grazes a herd of elephants on it. Applying the rule of ejusdem generis, what is the position?

Elephants are not necessarily covered. Under ejusdem generis, the general words 'other animals' following a list of specific domestic farm animals are limited to things of the same kind, so they do not automatically extend to elephants.

  1. AElephants are covered, since 'other animals' includes every animal
  2. BElephants are not necessarily covered, as 'other animals' is limited to the same class as the listed domestic farm animalsCorrect
  3. CElephants are covered only if the specific words are ignored
  4. DThe provision is void for vagueness

Explanation

Ejusdem generis says general words following specific words of a class take meaning from that class. The listed items are domestic farm animals, so 'other animals' means animals of that kind. Option A ignores the specific words.

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