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CA Intermediate · Corporate and Other Laws · Interpretation of Statutes

Section 3 of a statute defines 'Employer' as 'a person who employs ten or more workers'. A later section says 'Employer shall maintain a register'. Sundar employs eight workers. Applying the rule that a statutory definition governs the term where used in the Act unless the context otherwise requires, what is the position?

Sundar need not maintain the register. The Act defines Employer as one employing ten or more workers, and that definition applies wherever the word is used unless the context requires otherwise. With eight workers he falls outside the definition, whatever the ordinary meaning.

  1. ASundar must maintain the register since he is an employer in common speech
  2. BSundar need not maintain the register, since he does not fall within the Act's definition of EmployerCorrect
  3. CSundar must maintain the register because definitions are only illustrative
  4. DSundar need not maintain it only if he applies for an exemption

Explanation

Where the Act defines a term, that meaning is used wherever the term appears, unless the context requires otherwise. Eight workers is below the ten-worker threshold, so Sundar is not an Employer under the Act. Ordinary meaning does not override the statutory definition here.

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