AN ANALYSIS OF HEYDON’S CASE

(This rough draft is submitted in partial fulfilment of course Interpretation of Statutes and
Principles of Legislation for obtaining the degree B.B.A., LL.B. (Hons.) during the academic
year 2021-2022.)

SUBMITTED BY:

AASTHA PRAKASH

B.B.A., LL.B. (Hons.)

ROLL NO: 2002

SEMESTER: 7th

SUBMITTED TO:

PROF. DR. S. ALI MOHAMMAD

DR. PETER LADIS F.

FACULTY OF INTERPRETATION OF STATUTES AND PRINCIPLES OF

LEGISLATION

AUGUST, 2021

CHANAKYA NATIONAL LAW UNIVERSITY, NYAYA NAGAR, MITHAPUR,

PATNA- 800001.
INTRODUCTION:
Interpretation can be defined as the process which is adopted to ascertain the meaning of the act
and in this respect, the court is concerned to look to the words of the statute and its true meaning.
There is no need for rules of interpretation if the meaning of the words is clear because it has to
be read as it is but in cases of multiple meanings of same word then interpretation is needed.

A law is made for the purpose for which the legislature is concerned and the role of the judges is
to interpret law and not to make law and when the judges take up the matter in interpreting, they
have certain presumptions. It is presumed that the legislature while making the law has used
precise words and where the words bear more than one meaning the statute, the statute might be
understood in more meanings.

OBJECTIVES
The researcher has the following objectives:

a) To analyse Heydon’s case.

b) To understand and learn about the rules of interpretation and the meaning.
c) To learn about the mischief rule of interpretation thoroughly.

HYPOTHESIS
The objective of the mischief rule of interpretation is to advance the purpose of the statute and
suppress the mischief or defect of the statute.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
The research work is based on doctrinal method. It includes only secondary sources of data.

LIMITATIONS
Area of limitations – Every study has own limitation due to the limited time, lack of sufficient
financial sources and limited area of survey/study of the subject matter.

TENTATIVE CHAPTERISATION
1) Introduction
2) Heydon’s Case: Facts and Judgement
3) Rules Of Interpretation
4) Mischief Rule of Interpretation
5) Case Laws
6) Conclusion