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CMA Foundation · Fundamentals of Business Laws and Business Communication · Legal Methods and Court System in India

While interpreting a statute, a court applies the 'literal rule'. Which statement best describes this rule?

The literal rule requires the court to give the words of a statute their natural, plain and ordinary meaning, without adding to or altering them, even if the result appears harsh. Suppressing the mischief is the mischief rule, a different approach.

  1. AWords are given their natural and ordinary meaning, even if the result seems harshCorrect
  2. BWords are interpreted to suppress the mischief and advance the remedy
  3. CThe court rewrites the provision to achieve what it considers fair
  4. DWords are read in light of the meaning of the words associated with them

Explanation

Under the literal rule, the court gives the words of the statute their plain, natural and ordinary meaning without adding or altering anything, even where the outcome seems harsh. Option B describes the mischief rule (Heydon's case). Option D describes the rule of ejusdem generis or noscitur a sociis, not the literal rule.

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