AIR 1989 SUPREME COURT 1019 ::(1989) 39 ELT 498 ::(1989) 20 ECC 1 ::(1989) 21 ECR 7 ::(1989) 37 DLT 383 ::1989 37 DLT 383 ::1989 (2) SCC 458 ::1989 CriLR(SC MAH GUJ) 221 ::1989 28 STL 161 ::(1989) 1 JT 150 (SC) ::1989 (1) JT 150

Supreme Court Of India

(From : New Delhi)*

Hon'ble Judge(s): R. S. Pathak, M. N. Venkatachaliah , JJ

(A) Interpretation of Statutes , — Rule of ejusdem generis - Applicability - Wider or sweeping-up words following list or string of genus-describing words - Verbal context and linguistic implications of preceding words limit scope of following words. The expression ejusdem generis - 'of the same kind or nature' - signifies a principle of construction whereby words in a statute which are otherwise wide but are associated in the text with more limited words are, by implication, given a restricted operation and are limited to matters of the same class or genus as preceding them. If a list or string or family of genus-describing terms are followed by wider or residuary or sweeping-up words, then the verbal context and the linguistic implications of the preceding words limit the scope of such words. The principle underlying this approach to statutory construction is that the subsequent general words were only intended to guard against some accidental omission in the objects of the kind mentioned earlier and were not intended to extend to objects of a wholly different kind. This is a presumption and operates unless there is some contrary indication. But the preceding words or expressions of restricted meaning must be susceptible of the import that they represent a class. If no class can be found ejusdem generis rule is not attracted and such broad @....