Report No. 60

1.32. Title of the Act.-

In many countries, Acts similar to the General Clauses Act are called Interpretation Acts. But, as the provisions of the General Clauses Act (whether relating to definitions and meanings of words and terms or dealing with construction and interpretation) are, so far as may be necessary, common to every Central Act, the title "General Clauses Act" is not less appropriate than the title "Interpretation Act". For this reason, and also because this title has been in vogue for more than a century, we do not recommend any change therein. The Supreme Court had perhaps, this in mind when it observed in the case of Chief Inspector of Mines v. K.C. Thapar, (1961) 2 SCA 86 (89): AIR 1961 SC 838 (843) (Das Gupta).

"Whatever the General Clauses Act says, whether as regards the meanings of words or" as regards legal principles, has to be read into every Act to which it applies."