Jurisprudence II - course plan 2012-13.doc

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Jurisprudence-II (Interpretation of Statutes)

Third year - B.A., LL.B. (Hons.) [October 2012 - January 201!

"ationa# La$ %choo# o& 'ndia niersity, Ban*a#ore'nstructor+ %idharth hauhan

Course outlineuestions about interretation in the #a$ hae rincia##y been studied &ro/ the

ie$oint o& the ud*e $ho is ca##ed uon to read and a#y #e*is#atie /ateria#s. 't *oes

$ithout sayin* that ud*es are constant#y dea#in* $ith the uncertainties that arise in thecontinuu/ bet$een the oosite ends o& #itera# construction (or #ain /eanin*) and

urosie interretation. 't $ou#d be an oersi/#i&ication to thin o& these t$o

see/in*#y dier*ent aroaches as ehaustie o& the arious aroaches to #e*a#

interretation. 3uch #ie a reader $ho interrets a iece o& rose, an indiidua# $ho istryin* to /ae sense o& a aintin* or one $ho is #istenin* to /usic, #e*a# interretation

a#so deends on the seci&ic circu/stances surroundin* the act o& creation (by the author

or the artist) as $e## as the standoint o& the one $ho reads a tet, obseres a aintin* or

#istens to /usic. 't is 4uite &oreseeab#e that the act o& creation /i*ht hae been /otiated by a set o& concerns that are at ariance $ith those o& the reader, ie$er or #istener. 'n

so/e cases, the socia# /eanin* attached to the seci&ic $ords and i/a*es used by thecreator /i*ht chan*e $ith ti/e. 5or a ariety o& other reasons, the osition o& the

interreter /i*ht be radica##y di&&erent &ro/ that o& the creator. 'n /any $ays, an

ecessie e/hasis on the ori*ina# intent o& the creator /i*ht do /ore har/ than *ood tothe erceied uti#ity o& the tet in 4uestion. onerse#y, an indu#*ent#y &#uid aroach to

interretation can ae the $ay &or unendin* a/bi*uities and een indeter/inacy.

Le*a# interretation in the co//on #a$ tradition has to account &or theoerarchin* re&erence &or certainty, c#arity and consistency in the #a$. 6hi#e these

4ua#ities cannot be resent in an abso#ute sense, they do co//and the attention o& those$ho c#ai/ to be &a/i#iar $ith the #a$, either as #e*is#ators, ud*es or #a$yers (or /oresi/#y 7#a$/en8 as described by 9ar# L#e$e##yn). 5ro/ the ris/ o& inc#usie #e*a#

ositiis/, the authoritatie &orce o& #e*a# roisions bears a stron* corre#ation $ith

coherence in their interretation, both &ro/ the ie$oint o& those $ho are ased to a#ythe/ and those $ho are ased to &o##o$ the #a$. This nor/atie re&erence &or coherence

erades #e*a# interretation o& a## inds, $hether it is that o& contracts, constitutiona#

roisions, statutes or ad/inistratie re*u#ations.

There are t$o distinctie /ethods &or teachin* a course o& this descrition. The

estab#ished /ethod in the co//on #a$ tradition re4uires the students to #earn the canons

o& statutory interretation by ea/inin* ho$ they hae been a#ied and e#ained in ast decisions. Ho$eer, the ne$er /ethod that see/s to be *ainin* *round in the

acade/ia #ocates statutory interretation as a sub-&ie#d in the hi#osohy o& #an*ua*e. 'n

articu#ar, the ana#ysis o& #e*is#atie /ateria#s dra$s heai#y &ro/ #iterary theory. A&ter ahesitant start #ast year, ' $i## try and inte*rate both /ethods in this year8s ersion o& the

Jurisrudence-'' course.

1



6e $i## be*in the course by readin* etracts &ro/ boos and scho#ar#y artic#es

that discuss aroaches to interretation in *enera#. 6e $i## then bui#d on our bac*round

in #e*a# theory to understand the /ethods that hae been dee#oed &or interretin* #e*a#/ateria#s such as statutes, ad/inistratie re*u#ations and other &or/s o& subordinate

#e*is#ation. :#ease note that their $i## on#y be assin* re&erences to constitutiona#

interretation and the distinctie &eatures o& reasonin* in the co//on #a$ tradition, sinceit is resu/ed that you hae a#ready been eosed to the/ in ear#ier courses such as

Le*a# 3ethods, onstitutiona# La$ and Jurisrudence-'. A&ter hi*h#i*htin* the #ins

bet$een #e*a# theory and aroaches to interretation in the &irst &ie $ees o& the ter/,$e $i## /oe on to a surey o& the ;enera# #auses Act, 1<=> $hich shou#d tae about

t$o $ees. This $i## be &o##o$ed by the ractice-oriented se*/ent o& the course, $herein

$e $i## surey the ro/inent canons o& statutory interretation durin* the #atter ha#& o&

the tri/ester. 5or this ortion, ' $ou#d stron*#y ur*e a## students to rocure a coy o& Maxwell on the Interpretation of Statutes (12th edn.). 3u#ti#e coies o& this boo are

aai#ab#e in the "L% Library and it can easi#y be urchased &ro/ boo stores. '& ti/e

er/its, $e $i## a#so try and understand so/e asects o& re-#e*is#atie consu#tation

/echanis/s and #e*is#atie dra&tin*, thou*h that shou#d idea##y be the subect o& asearate &u##-&#ed*ed course. :erhas it is ti/e &or the Bar ounci# o& 'ndia (B') to

rescribe a /andatory course tit#ed 7Le*isrudence8.

Last year, ' receied aderse &eedbac &or hain* re#ied on a standardi?ed #ist o&

cases dee#oed by the 5acu#ty o& La$, @e#hi niersity. Additiona##y, studentsreeated#y 4uestioned the need &or readin* entire ud*/ents $hen it $as &e#t that readin*

se#ected etracts $ou#d hae been su&&icient. Another oint o& criticis/ $as that o&

#i/ited re#iance on ro/inent treatises in the &ie#d o& statutory interretation such as those

authored by ;.:. %in*h, 5rancis Bennion and 6i##ia/ srid*e, Jr. 'n artia# reco*nitiono& the &irst o& these concerns, ' $i## not be *oin* throu*h the entire @e#hi niersity case

#ist this year. Ho$eer, ' $i## be se#ectie#y discussin* ud*/ents &ro/ this #ist since they

$i## sere as use&u# i##ustrations. 5urther/ore, ' sti## do not thin that $e can $or throu*h any o& the a&ore/entioned treatises in an introductory course sread oer 12

$ees. There&ore, our ri/ary *uide to the canons o& interretation $i## be Maxwell and

the students are $e##-adised to re&er to the treatises durin* the course o& rearin* their ter/ aers. A #ist o& su**ested re&erences aears at the end o& the readin* #an.

Classroom and examination instructions

%ince this is an introductory course, the intent is to &a/i#iari?e ourse#es $ithso/e #eadin* scho#ar#y $ors in the &ie#d. Ad/itted#y, so/e o& the readin* assi*n/ents

are 4uite cha##en*in* and they $i## re4uire care&u# and re&#ectie study. The a/ination

@eart/ent $i## be circu#atin* coies o& the etracts &ro/ the boos and scho#ar#yartic#es that are /ared in the course-#an. Judicia# decisions $i## not be circu#ated by the

a/ination @eart/ent, since students are eected to co##ect the/ on their o$n.

' $i## be noti&yin* the eected coera*e &or each $ee. 5ai#ure to ee u $ith

the essentia# readin*s $i## not on#y retard our ro*ress in the course but cou#d a#so #ead to

undue e/barrass/ent &or you in the c#assroo/ and considerab#e stress durin* the days

#eadin* u to the ea/ination. The use o& #atos or any other e#ectronic deices is

2



rohibited durin* #ecture-hours un#ess e#icit#y authorised &or a seci&ied urose.

Attendance nor/s $i## be en&orced as er the ru#es &ra/ed by the nder-;raduate

ounci#.

There $i## be an end-ter/ ea/ination o& the 7oen-boo8 ariety that $i## #ast

hours and 1 /inutes. Cou /ay be ased to $rite ana#ytica# essays or short resonses toseci&ied etracts. The e/hasis $i## be on concetua# understandin* and c#arity in

$ritin* rather than /ere re*ur*itation o& the course content. Cou $i## be a##o$ed to carry

the assi*ned readin*s and your o$n hand$ritten notes into the ea/ination ha##. Coucannot carry rint-outs or hotocoies o& notes reared by yourse#& or any other student.

This a#so /eans that you cannot carry rinted su//aries o& the readin* assi*n/ents

$hich /i*ht hae been reared throu*h co##aboratie e&&orts. '& you ee u $ith the

readin*s throu*hout the tri/ester, there shou#d be no cause &or #ast-/inute anieties. 'neein* $ith the nder-;raduate ounci# ru#es, the ea#uation sche/e is re-stated be#o$+

- nd-Ter/ ea/ination+ D0 /ars

- Ter/ :aer+ 2 /ars (%ee 7:roect toics and instructions8)

- :aer resentation+ 10 /ars- Attendance+ /ars

' $i## be aai#ab#e to ans$er 4uestions and c#ari&y doubts at the end o& each c#ass. As

a *enera# /atter, ' $i## be aai#ab#e &or /eetin*s in /y o&&ice, usua##y bet$een 2+0 /

-+0 / on a## $orin* days. Any deiations &ro/ this schedu#e $i## be co//unicatedin c#ass. '& you $ant to /eet /e outside o&&ice hours, ' $ou#d ur*e you to send /e an e-

/ai# in adance.

Weeks 1-4: Legal teor! and approaces to interpretation

Week 1

•

5rederic %chauer, Thinking Like a Lawyer: A New Introduction to Legal Reasoning (Harard niersity :ress, 200=) . 1E<-1>0, 1<<-202

• 3a Fadin, 7%tatutory 'nterretation8, E Harard Law Reiew <D-<< (1=0)

• Ja/es Boyd 6hite, 7Feadin* La$ and Feadin* Literature8, D0 Texas Law Reiew

E1-EE (1=<1-1=<2)

Week "

• H.L.A. Hart, The !oncept of Law, 2nd edn. (O&ord+ #arendon :ress, 1==E) .

12E-1E

• Brian Bi, 7H.L.A. Hart and the 7Oen Teture8 o& Lan*ua*e8, 10(1) Law and

"hilosophy 1->2 (5eb. 1==1)

• Ti/othy ndicott, 7Lin*uistic 'ndeter/inacy8, 1D(E) #xford $ournal of Legal

Studies DD>-D=> (6inter 1==D)Week #

• Fona#d @$orin, 7La$ as 'nterretation8, D0 Texas Law Reiew 2>-0 (1=<1-

1=<2)

• %tan#ey 5ish, 76orin* on the hain ;an*+ 'nterretation in the La$ and in

Literary riticis/8, =(1) !ritical In%uiry 201-21D (%et. 1=<2)



• Fona#d @$orin, Law&s '(pire (Harard niersity :ress, 1=<D) . 22-2>,

1-E

Week 4

• 9ent ;reena$a#t, 7@iscretion and Judicia# @ecision+ The e#usie 4uest &or the

&etters that bind ud*es8, >(2) !olu()ia Law Reiew =-== (3ar. 1=>)

• Fichard A. :osner, Law and Literature, rd edn. (Harard niersity :ress, 200=) . 2>-2<

Week $

• Adrian Ger/eu#e, 7The yc#es o& %tatutory 'nterretation8, D<(1) The *niersity

of !hicago Law Reiew 1E=-1=2 (6inter 2001)

• Aharon Bara, "urposie Interpretation in Law (:rinceton niersity :ress,

200) . -<2, =-D=

Weeks %-&: 'eneral Clauses ct 1*+&

• ;enera# #auses Act, 1<=> (Bare Act)

• Maxwell on the Interpretation of Statutes (12th edn.), h. 1

• La$ o//ission o& 'ndia D0th Feort on 7;enera# #auses Act, 1<=>8 (3ay

1=>E)

• La$ o//ission o& 'ndia 1<rd Feort on 7A continuu/ on the ;enera# #auses

Act, 1<=> $ith secia# re&erence to the ad/issibi#ity and codi&ication o& eterna#

aids to interretation o& statutes8 ("oe/ber 2002)

Weeks *-1": Canons of statutor! interpretation

• 3ain tet+ Maxwell on the Interpretation of Statutes (12th edn.)

/hasis on haters 2, , D, 10, 11, 12 and 1 intersersed $ith se#ectie

coera*e o& udicia# decisions #isted be#o$.

[List sourced &ro/ readin* /ateria# on 7'nterretation o& %tatutes8 (5acu#ty o& La$ - @e#hiniersity, January 200=), se#ected by A.9. Batra, B.T. 9au# I "ira 9u/ar!

%et ' - On the udicia# ro#e and ho#istic readin* o& statutes1. :. Fa/achandra Fao . %tate o& 9arnataa, (2002) E % ><

2. :ad/a %undara Fao . %tate o& Ta/i# "adu, (2002) %

. @.3. Araa#i ;o#& #ub . hander Hass, 200> (1E) %AL 1E. Bhatia 'nternationa# . Bu# Tradin* %.A., (2002) E % 10 [since oerru#ed!

%et '' - Litera# construction

. Te 9iran Jain . ". %ania Feddy, (1=>0) 2 % 2>2

D. Ju*a#ishore . Fa$ otton o., A'F 1= % >D

>. B.". 3utto . T.9. "andi, (1=>=) 1 % D1<. Fa/atar Budhairasad . Assistant %a#es Ta O&&icer, A'F 1=D1 % 12

=. 3s. 3otiur Ka/indary o. (:riate) Ltd. . %tate o& Bihar, A'F 1=D2 % DD010. %tate o& 6est Ben*a# . 6asi Ah/ed, (1=>>) 2 % 2ED

11. 3.G. Joshi . 3.. %hi/i, A'F 1=D1 % 1E=E

12. The ueen . har#es Arthur Hi## Heaten ##is, (1<EE) D .B. E==1. 3atthe$s . @obbins, [1=D! 1 ALL F E1>

%et ''' - ;o#den Fu#e

E



1E. Lee . 9na, (1=D>) 2 .B. EE2

1. ;. "arayanas$a/i . :annersean, (1=>2) % >1>

1D. nion o& 'ndia . 5i#i Tia*o @e ;a/a o& Gede/ Gasco @e ;a/a, A'F 1==0 %=<1

1>. "oes . @oncaster A/a#*a/ated o##ieries, (1=E0) A 101E

%et 'G - 3ischie& Fu#e o& construction1<. Heydon8s case, (1<E) o. Fe. >

1=. F.3.@. ha/arbau*$a##a . nion o& 'ndia, A'F 1=> % D2<

20. o//issioner o& 'nco/e-ta . %/t. %odra @ei, A'F 1=> % <221. ta# ontractors I Joinery (:) Ltd. . %tate o& Orissa, A'F 1=<> % 1EE

22. %/ith . Hu*hes, (1=D0) 1 6.L.F. <0

%et G - Fu#e o& :urosie construction

2. Fe. %tanis#aus . %tate o& 3.:., A'F 1=>> % 10<2E. %.F. haudhary . %tate o& :unab, (2001) > % 12D

2. A## 'ndia Feorter 9ara/chari %an*h . A## 'ndia Feorters Ltd., A'F 1=<< %

12

2D. %tate o& 3ysore . F.G. Bida, A'F 1=> % 2%et G' - onstruction t res /a*is a#eat 4ua/ ereat

2>. Atar %in*h . %tate o& :unab, A'F 1=D % DDD2<. ororation o& a#cutta . Liberty ine/a, A'F 1=D % DD1

2=. 3. :entiah . 3udda#a Geera/a##aa, A'F 1=D1 % 110>

%et G'' - Fu#e o& %trict 'nterretation (:ena# and Ta statutes)0. Bo$ers . ;#oucester ororation, (1=D) 1 .B. <<1

1. ;eor*e Baneri . /eror, (1=1>) 1< r L J E

2. The /ress 3i##s, "a*ur . The 3unicia# o//ittee, 6ardha, A'F 1=< %

E1. A.%. %u#ochana . . @har/a#in*a/, A'F 1=<> % 2E2

E. F. . Oaes, (1==) 2 ALL F =2

%et G''' - Fu#e o& Har/onious onstruction. %ri Genatara/ana @earu . %tate o& 3ysore, A'F 1=< % 2

D. 9.3. "anaati . %tate o& Bo/bay, A'F 1=D1 % 112

>. a#cutta ;as o. . %tate o& 6est Ben*a#, A'F 1=D2 % 10EE<. %irsi# Ltd. . ;ot. o& Andhra :radesh, A'F 1=DE % 1D0

=. The Fe/in*ton Fand o& 'ndia Ltd. . The 6or/en, A'F 1=D< % 22E

%et ' - :rinci#es o& usde/ ;eneris and "oscitur a sociis

E0. a#cutta 3unicia# ororation . ast 'ndia Hote#s Ltd., (1==E) % D=0E1. Os$a# A*ro 3i##s Ltd. . o##ector &or entra# cise, 1== %u () % >1D

E2. Ashbury Fai#$ay arria*e I 'ron o. . Fiche (1<>) LF > HL D

E. Bro$nsea Haens :roerties . :oo#e ororation, (1=<) 1 ALL F 20%et - 'nterna# aids to statutory interretation

EE. Bis$a/bhar %in*h . %tate o& Orissa, A'F 1=E % 1=

E. 3s Hira#a# Fattan#a# . %tate o& ttar :radesh, (1=>) 1 % 21DED. 3anohar#a# . %tate o& :unab, A'F 1=D1 % E1<

%et ' - terna# aids to statutory interretation

E>. %hashiant La/an 9a#e . nion o& 'ndia, A'F 1==0 % 211E

E<. :eer ('nsector o& Taes) . Hart, [1==2! 6LF 102



[A#so see 2E. %.F. haudhary . %tate o& :unab, (2001) > % 12D!

[A#so see 2D. %tate o& 3ysore . F.G. Bida, A'F 1=> % 2!

D



,C.//0 2..3S (for furter reading and researc for proects)

1. Adrian Ger/eu#e, $udging under *ncertainty: An Institutional Theory of Legal

Interpretation (Harard niersity :ress, 200D)2. Andrei 3ar/or (ed.), Law and Interpretation: 'ssays in Legal "hilosophy

(O&ord niersity :ress, 1==)

. Brian Bi, Law+ Language and Legal ,eter(inacy (O&ord+ #arendon :ress,1==)

E. @. "ei# 3acor/ic, Legal Reasoning and Legal Theory (O&ord niersity

:ress, 1=><). @. "ei# 3acor/ic I Fobert %. %u//ers (eds.), Interpreting Statutes: A

!o(paratie Study (@art/outh :ress, 1==1)

D. 5rancis Bennion, Statutory Interpretation, th edn. (Leis"eis Butter$orths,

200<)>. ;.:. %in*h, Interpretation of Statutes, 12th edn. (Leis"eis Butter$orths

6adh$a, 2010)

<. Joseh Fa?, -etween Authority and Interpretation: #n the theory of law and

practical reason (O&ord niersity :ress, 200=)=. 9ent ;reena$a#t, Legal Interpretation: "erspecties fro( other disciplines and

priate texts (O&ord niersity :ress %A, 2010)10. Luc J. 6int*ens, Legisprudence: A new theoretical approach to legislation

(O&ord+ Hart :ub#ishin*, 2002)

11. :. %t. J. La*an, Maxwell on the Interpretation of Statutes, 12th edn. (Butter$orths,1=D=) ['ndian Ferint 2010!

12. Fichard A. :osner, How $udges Think. (Harard niersity :ress, 200<)

1. Ti/othy A.O. ndicott, /agueness in Law (O&ord niersity :ress, 2000)

1E. Gea :. %arathi, Interpretation of Statutes+ 0th edn1 (astern Boo o., 200)1. 6i##ia/ ". srid*e, Jr., ,yna(ic Statutory Interpretation (Harard niersity

:ress, 1==E)

1D. 6i##ia/ ". srid*e, Jr., :hi#i 5ricey I #i?abeth ;arrett, !ases and Materialson Legislation+ Statutes and the creation of "u)lic "olicy , Eth edn. (Tho/son

6est, 200>)

,5ICLS 6,./ LW ,7IWS 0 J.8,0LS (supplemental readings)

1. ass %unstein, 7'nterretin* %tatutes in the Fe*u#atory %tate8, 10 Harard Law

Reiew E0 (1=<=)

2. @anie# A. 5arber, 7@o Theories o& %tatutory 'nterretation 3atterM A ase %tudy8,=E Northwestern *niersity Law Reiew 1E0= (2000)

. @anie# A. 5arber, 7arth4uaes and Tre/ors in %tatutory 'nterretation+ An

/irica# %tudy o& the @yna/ics o& 'nterretation8, <= Minnesota Law Reiew<E< (200)

E. @aid A. %trauss, 7o//on La$ onstitutiona# 'nterretation8, D The

*niersity of !hicago Law Reiew <>> (1==D). 5e#i 5ran&urter, 7%o/e Fe/ars on the Feadin* o& %tatutes8, E> !olu()ia Law

Reiew 2> (1=E>)

D. 5rederic %chaeur, 7A ritica# ;uide to Gehic#es in the :ar8, < New 2ork

*niersity Law Reiew 110= (200<)

>



>. John 5. 3annin*, 7The Absurdity @octrine8, 11D Harard Law Reiew 2<>

(200)

<. Judith 3. %che##y, 7'nterretation in La$+ The @$orin-5ish @ebate (Or %occer a/on*st the ;ahuu-;a/a)8, >(1) !alifornia Law Reiew 1<-1<0 (Jan. 1=<)

=. La$rence 3. %o#an, 7:riate Lan*ua*e, :ub#ic La$s+ The entra# Fo#e o&

Le*is#atie 'ntent in %tatutory 'nterretation8, = 3eorgia Law $ournal E2>(200)

10. La$rence Lessi*, 7nderstandin* han*ed Feadin*s+ 5ide#ity and Theory8, E>()

Stanford Law Reiew =-E>2 (5eb. 1==)11. "icho#as %. Keos, 7Judicia# andor and %tatutory 'nterretation8, >< 3eorgia

Law $ournal (1=<=)

12. Fichard A. :osner, 7Le*a# 5or/a#is/, Le*a# Fea#is/, and the 'nterretation o&

%tatutes and the onstitution8, > !ase 4estern Resere Law Reiew 1>= (1=<D)1. %tan#ey 5ish, 75ish . 5iss8, D Stanford Law Reiew 12 (1=<E)

1E. %tehen Breyer, 7On the ses o& Le*is#atie History in 'nterretin* %tatutes8, D

Southern !alifornia Law Reiew <E (1==2)

1. Ti/othy A.O. ndicott, 7:uttin* 'nterretation in its #ace8, 1(E) Law and "hilosophy E1-E>= ("o. 1==E)

1D. Ti/othy A.O. ndicott, 7Ga*ueness and Le*a# Theory8, Legal Theory > (1==>)

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