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CA Intermediate · Corporate and Other Laws · Interpretation of Statutes

A statute provides that 'no person shall keep any dog, cat, bird or other animal in the premises of a housing society for commercial breeding'. A member keeps a herd of cows for commercial dairy breeding. Applying the rule of ejusdem generis, what is the correct position?

The cows are not covered, because under ejusdem generis the general words 'other animal' take their meaning from the preceding specific words dog, cat and bird, which form a class of small domestic pets. Cattle fall outside that class, so the restriction does not apply to them.

  1. AThe cows are covered because 'other animal' includes every animal without limitation
  2. BThe cows are not covered if the listed items form a class of small domestic pets and cows fall outside that classCorrect
  3. CThe provision is void for vagueness and cannot be applied
  4. DThe cows are covered only if the member has obtained a licence

Explanation

Ejusdem generis means general words following specific words are limited to things of the same kind (class) as the specific ones. Dog, cat and bird are small household pets, so 'other animal' is read as similar pets, not cattle. Option A ignores the rule and reads the general words in their widest sense.

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