Section 3, General Clauses Act, 1897 [S10-0SN]

As at 6 September 2026. In force from 10 March 1897.

In General Clauses Act, 1897 [A10-095]. This text from 11 March 1897. No other text held.

Cite: Section 3, General Clauses Act, 1897 [S10-0SN]. Machine: S10-0SN.

Defined terms in this text (67)

abet: Section 3, General Clauses Act, 1897 [S100SN] (In this Act, and in all Central Acts and Regulations made after the commencement of this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context): (1) "abet", with its grammatical variations and cognate expressions, shall have the same meaning as in the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860);

act: Section 3, General Clauses Act, 1897 [S100SN] (In this Act, and in all Central Acts and Regulations made after the commencement of this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context): (2) "act", used with reference to an offence or a civil wrong, shall include a series of acts, and words which refer to acts done extend also to illegal omissions;

act: 363 more definitions.

affidavit: Section 3, General Clauses Act, 1897 [S100SN] (In this Act, and in all Central Acts and Regulations made after the commencement of this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context): (3) "affidavit" shall include affirmation and declaration in the case of persons by law allowed to affirm or declare instead of swearing;

attached to the earth: Section 3, Transfer of Property Act [S100ND] (In this Act, unless there is something repugnant in the subject or context,—): "attached to the earth" means (a) rooted in the earth, as in the case of trees and shrubs; (b) imbedded in the earth, as in the case of walls or buildings; or (c) attached to what is so imbedded for the permanent beneficial enjoyment of that to which it is attached

barrister: Section 3, General Clauses Act, 1897 [S100SN] (In this Act, and in all Central Acts and Regulations made after the commencement of this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context): (4) "barrister" shall mean a barrister of England or Ireland, or a member of the Faculty of Advocates in Scotland;

British India: Section 3, General Clauses Act, 1897 [S100SN] (In this Act, and in all Central Acts and Regulations made after the commencement of this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context): (5) "British India" shall mean, as respects the period before the commencement of Part III of the Government of India Act, 1935, all territories and places within His Majestys dominions which were for the time being governed by His Majesty through the Governor-General of India or through any Governor or Officer subordinate to the Governor-General of India, and as respects any period after that date and before the date of establishment of the Dominion of India means all territories for the time being comprised within the Governors Provinces and the Chief Commissioners Provinces, except that a reference to British India in an Indian law passed or made before the commencement of Part III of the Government of India Act, 1935, shall not include a reference to Berar;

British possession: Section 3, General Clauses Act, 1897 [S100SN] (In this Act, and in all Central Acts and Regulations made after the commencement of this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context): (6) "British possession" shall mean any part of Her Majestys dominions, exclusive of the United Kingdom, and where parts of those dominions are under both a Central and a Local Legislature, all parts under the Central Legislature shall, for the purposes of this definition, be deemed to be one British possession;

Central Act: Section 3, General Clauses Act, 1897 [S100SN] (In this Act, and in all Central Acts and Regulations made after the commencement of this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context): (7) "Central Act" shall means an Act of Parliament, and shall include(a)an Act of the Dominion Legislature or of the Indian Legislature passed before the commencement of the Constitution, and(b)an Act made before such commencement by the Governor-General in Council or the Governor-General, acting in a legislative capacity;

Central Government: Section 3, General Clauses Act, 1897 [S100SN] (In this Act, and in all Central Acts and Regulations made after the commencement of this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context): (8) "Central Government" shall,(a)in relation to anything done before the commencement of the Constitution, mean the Governor-General or the Governor-General in Council, as the case may be; and shall include,(i)in relation to functions entrusted under sub-section (1) of section 124 of the Government of India Act, 1935, to the Government of a Province, the Provincial Government acting within the scope of the authority given to it under that sub-section; and(ii)in relation to the administration of a Chief Commissioners Province, the Chief Commissioner acting within the scope of the authority given to him under sub-section (3) of section 94 of the said Act; and(b)in relation to anything done or to be done after the commencement of the Constitution, mean the President; and shall include,(i)in relation to functions entrusted under clause (1) of article 258 of the Constitution, to the Government of a State, the State Government acting within the scope of the authority given to it under that clause; * The word "and" omitted by the Adaptation of Laws(No.1) Order, 1956.(ii)in relation to the administration of a Part C State before the commencement of the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, the Chief Commissioner or the Lieutenant-Governor or the Government of a neighbouring State or other authority acting within the scope of the authority given to him or it under article 239 or article 243 of the Constitution, as the case may be;]and(iii)in relation to the administration of a Union territory, the administrator thereof acting within the scope of the authority given to him under article 239 of the Constitution;

Chapter: Section 3, General Clauses Act, 1897 [S100SN] (In this Act, and in all Central Acts and Regulations made after the commencement of this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context): (9) "Chapter" shall mean a Chapter of the Act or Regulation in which the word occurs;

Chief Controlling Revenue Authority or Chief Revenue Authority: Section 3, General Clauses Act, 1897 [S100SN] (In this Act, and in all Central Acts and Regulations made after the commencement of this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context): (10) "Chief Controlling Revenue Authority or Chief Revenue Authority" shall mean(a)in a State where there is a Board of Revenue, that Board;(b)in a State where there is a Revenue Commissioner, that Commissioner;(c)in Punjab, the Financial Commissioner; and(d)elsewhere, such authority as, in relation to matters enumerated in List I in the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution, the Central Government, and in relation to other matters, the State Government, may by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint;

Collector: Section 3, General Clauses Act, 1897 [S100SN] (In this Act, and in all Central Acts and Regulations made after the commencement of this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context): (11) "Collector" shall mean, in a Presidency town, the Collector of Calcutta, Madras or Bombay, as the case may be, and elsewhere the chief officer-in-charge of the revenue-administration of a district;

Collector: 41 more definitions.

Colony: Section 3, General Clauses Act, 1897 [S100SN] (In this Act, and in all Central Acts and Regulations made after the commencement of this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context): (12) "Colony"(a)in any Central Act passed after the commencement Ist April, 1937. of Part III of the Government of India Act, 1935, shall mean any part of His Majestys dominions exclusive of the British Islands, the Dominions of India and Pakistan (and before the establishment 15th August, 1947. of those Dominions, British India), any Dominions as defined in the Statute of Westminster, 1931, any Province or State forming part of any of the said Dominions, and British Burma; and(b)in any Central Act passed before the commencement of Part III of the said Act, mean any part of His Majestys dominions exclusive of the British Islands and of British India,and in either case where parts of those dominions are under both a Central and Local Legislature, all parts under the Central Legislature shall, for the purposes of this definition, be deemed to be one colony;

commencement: Section 3, General Clauses Act, 1897 [S100SN] (In this Act, and in all Central Acts and Regulations made after the commencement of this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context): (13) "commencement", used with reference to an Act or Regulation, shall mean the day on which the Act or Regulation comes into force;

Commissioner: Section 3, General Clauses Act, 1897 [S100SN] (In this Act, and in all Central Acts and Regulations made after the commencement of this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context): (14) "Commissioner" shall mean the chief officer-in-charge of the revenue administration of a division;

Commissioner: 46 more definitions.

company: Section 2(20), Companies Act: "company" means a company incorporated under this Act or under any previous company law;

company: Section 2, Presidency Towns Insolvency Act, 1909 [S162E3] (In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—): "company" means a company incorporated under this Act or under any previous company law

company: Section 2, Provisional Insolvency Act, 1920 [S170JY] (In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—): "company" means a company incorporated under this Act or under any previous company law

company: 11 more definitions.

Constitution: Section 3, General Clauses Act, 1897 [S100SN] (In this Act, and in all Central Acts and Regulations made after the commencement of this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context): (15) "Constitution" shall mean the Constitution of India;

Consular officer: Section 3, General Clauses Act, 1897 [S100SN] (In this Act, and in all Central Acts and Regulations made after the commencement of this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context): (16) "Consular officer" shall include consul-general, consul, vice-consul, consular agent, pro-consul and any person for the time being authorised to perform the duties of consul-general, consul, vice-consul or consular agent;

Court: Section 2, Indian Tolls Act, 1851 [S11B35] (In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—): "court" means a court of civil jurisdiction and includes a tribunal constituted under this Act

Court: Section 2, Indian Tolls Act, 1864 [S12AQM] (In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—): "court" means a court of civil jurisdiction and includes a tribunal constituted under this Act

Court: Section 2, Bombay Civil Courts Act, 1869 [S12EXG] (In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—): "court" means a court of civil jurisdiction and includes a tribunal constituted under this Act

Court: 47 more definitions.

District Judge: Section 3, General Clauses Act, 1897 [S100SN] (In this Act, and in all Central Acts and Regulations made after the commencement of this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context): (17) "District Judge" shall mean the Judge of a principal Civil Court of original jurisdiction, but shall not include a High Court in the exercise of its ordinary or extraordinary original civil jurisdiction;

document: Section 3, General Clauses Act, 1897 [S100SN] (In this Act, and in all Central Acts and Regulations made after the commencement of this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context): "document" shall include any matter written, expressed or described upon any substance by means of letters, figures or marks, or by more than one of those means which is intended to be used, or which may be used, for the purpose of recording that matter

enactment: Section 3, General Clauses Act, 1897 [S100SN] (In this Act, and in all Central Acts and Regulations made after the commencement of this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context): (19) "enactment" shall include a Regulation (as hereinafter defined) and any Regulation of the Bengal, Madras or Bombay Code, and shall also include any provision contained in any Act or in any such Regulation as aforesaid;

expressions referring to writing: Section 3, General Clauses Act, 1897 [S100SN] (In this Act, and in all Central Acts and Regulations made after the commencement of this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context): (65) "expressions referring to writing" shall be construed as including references to printing, lithorgraphy, photography and other modes of representing or reproducing words in a visible form; and(66)year shall mean a year reckoned according to the British calendar.

father: Section 3, General Clauses Act, 1897 [S100SN] (In this Act, and in all Central Acts and Regulations made after the commencement of this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context): (20) "father", in the case of any one whose personal law permits adoption, shall include an adoptive father;

financial year: Section 3, General Clauses Act, 1897 [S100SN] (In this Act, and in all Central Acts and Regulations made after the commencement of this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context): (21) "financial year" shall mean the year commencing on the first day of April; (22) a thing shall be deemed to be done in "good faith" where it is in fact done honesty, whether it is done negligently or not;

financial year: 22 more definitions.

good faith: Section 3, General Clauses Act, 1897 [S100SN] (In this Act, and in all Central Acts and Regulations made after the commencement of this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context): "a thing shall be deemed to be done in "good faith" where it is in fact done honestly, whether it is done negligently or not"

good faith: 2 more definitions.

Government: Section 3, General Clauses Act, 1897 [S100SN] (In this Act, and in all Central Acts and Regulations made after the commencement of this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context): (23) "Government" or the Government shall include both the Central Government and any State Government;

Government securities: Section 3, General Clauses Act, 1897 [S100SN] (In this Act, and in all Central Acts and Regulations made after the commencement of this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context): (24) "Government securities" shall mean securities of the Central Government or of any State Government, but in any Act or Regulation made before the commencement 26th January, 1950. of the Constitution shall not include securities of the Government of any Part B State;

High Court: Section 3, General Clauses Act, 1897 [S100SN] (In this Act, and in all Central Acts and Regulations made after the commencement of this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context): (25) "High Court", used with reference to civil proceedings, shall mean the highest Civil Court of appeal (not including the Supreme Court) in the part of India in which the Act or Regulation containing the expression operates;

imprisonment: Section 3, General Clauses Act, 1897 [S100SN] (In this Act, and in all Central Acts and Regulations made after the commencement of this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context): (27) "imprisonment" shall mean imprisonment of either description as defined in the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860);

India: Section 3, General Clauses Act, 1897 [S100SN] (In this Act, and in all Central Acts and Regulations made after the commencement of this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context): (28) "India" shall mean,(a)as respects any period before the establishment 15th August, 1947. of the Dominion of India, British India together with all territories of Indian Rulers then under the suzerainty of His Majesty, all territories under the suzerainty of such an Indian Ruler, and the tribal areas;(b)as respects any period after the establishment of the Dominion of India and before the commencement 26th January, 1950. of the Constitution, all territories for the time being included in that Dominion; and(c)as respects any period after the commencement of the Constitution, all territories for the time being comprised in the territory of India;

Indian law: Section 3, General Clauses Act, 1897 [S100SN] (In this Act, and in all Central Acts and Regulations made after the commencement of this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context): (29) "Indian law" shall mean any Act, Ordinance, Regulation, Rule, order, bye-law or other instrument which before the commencement of the Constitution had the force of law in any Province of India or part thereof, and thereafter has the force of law in any Part A State or Part C State or part thereof, but does not include any Act of Parliament of the United Kingdom or any Order in Council, Rule or other instrument made under such Act;

Indian State: Section 3, General Clauses Act, 1897 [S100SN] (In this Act, and in all Central Acts and Regulations made after the commencement of this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context): (30) "Indian State" shall mean any territory which the Central Government recognised as such a State before the commencement of the Constitution, whether described as a State, an Estate, a Jagir or otherwise;

local authority: Section 3, General Clauses Act, 1897 [S100SN] (In this Act, and in all Central Acts and Regulations made after the commencement of this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context): (31) "local authority" shall mean a municipal committee, district board, body of port commissioners or other authority legally entitled to, or entrusted by the Government with, the control or management of a municipal or local fund;

local authority: 1 more definition.

Magistrate: Section 3, General Clauses Act, 1897 [S100SN] (In this Act, and in all Central Acts and Regulations made after the commencement of this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context): (32) "Magistrate" shall include every person exercising all or any of the powers of a Magistrate under the Code of Criminal Procedure for the time being in force;

Magistrate: 27 more definitions.

mark: Section 2(1)(m), Trade Marks Act: "mark" includes a device, brand, heading, label, ticket, name, signature, word, letter, numeral, shape of goods, packaging or combination of colours or any combination thereof;

master: Section 3, General Clauses Act, 1897 [S100SN] (In this Act, and in all Central Acts and Regulations made after the commencement of this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context): (33) "master", used with reference to a ship, shall mean, any person (except a pilot or harbour-master) having for the time being control or charge of the ship;

master: 15 more definitions.

merged territories: Section 3, General Clauses Act, 1897 [S100SN] (In this Act, and in all Central Acts and Regulations made after the commencement of this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context): (34) "merged territories" shall mean the territories which by virtue of an order made under section 290-A of the Government of India Act, 1935, were immediately before the Commencement 26th January, 1950. of the Constitution being administered as if they formed part of a Governors Province or as if they were a Chief Commissioners Province;

month: Section 3, General Clauses Act, 1897 [S100SN] (In this Act, and in all Central Acts and Regulations made after the commencement of this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context): "month" shall mean a month reckoned according to the British calendar

oath: Section 3, General Clauses Act, 1897 [S100SN] (In this Act, and in all Central Acts and Regulations made after the commencement of this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context): (37) "oath" shall include affirmation and declaration in the case of persons by law allowed to affirm or declare instead of swearing;

offence: Section 3, General Clauses Act, 1897 [S100SN] (In this Act, and in all Central Acts and Regulations made after the commencement of this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context): "offence" shall mean any act or omission made punishable by any law for the time being in force

offence: 27 more definitions.

Official Gazette or Gazette: Section 3, General Clauses Act, 1897 [S100SN] (In this Act, and in all Central Acts and Regulations made after the commencement of this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context): (39) "Official Gazette or Gazette" shall mean the Gazette of India or the Official Gazette of a State;

Part: Section 3, General Clauses Act, 1897 [S100SN] (In this Act, and in all Central Acts and Regulations made after the commencement of this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context): (40) "Part" shall mean a Part of the Act or Regulation in which the word occurs;

Part A State: Section 3, General Clauses Act, 1897 [S100SN] (In this Act, and in all Central Acts and Regulations made after the commencement of this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context): (41) "Part A State" shall mean a State for the time being specified in Part A of the First Schedule to the Constitution, as in force before the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, Part B State shall mean a State for the time being specified in Part b of that Schedule and Part C State shall mean a State for the time being specified in Part C of that Schedule or a territory for the time being administered by the President under the provisions of article 243 of the Constitution;

person: Section 3, General Clauses Act, 1897 [S100SN] (In this Act, and in all Central Acts and Regulations made after the commencement of this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context): "person" shall include any company or association or body of individuals, whether incorporated or not

person: 1 more definition.

Political Agent: Section 3, General Clauses Act, 1897 [S100SN] (In this Act, and in all Central Acts and Regulations made after the commencement of this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context): (43) "Political Agent" shall mean,(a)in relation to any territory outside India, the Principal Officer, by whatever name called, representing the Central Government in such territory; and(b)in relation to any territory within India to which the Act or Regulation containing the expression does not extend, any officer appointed by the Central Government to exercise all or any of the powers of a Political Agent under that Act or Regulation;

Presidency-town: Section 3, General Clauses Act, 1897 [S100SN] (In this Act, and in all Central Acts and Regulations made after the commencement of this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context): (44) "Presidency-town" shall mean the local limits for the time being of the ordinary original civil jurisdiction of the High Court of Judicature at Calcutta, Madras or Bombay, as the case may be;

Province: Section 3, General Clauses Act, 1897 [S100SN] (In this Act, and in all Central Acts and Regulations made after the commencement of this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context): (45) "Province" shall mean a Presidency, a Governors Province, a Lieutenant-Governors Province or a Chief Commissioners Province;

Provincial Act: Section 3, General Clauses Act, 1897 [S100SN] (In this Act, and in all Central Acts and Regulations made after the commencement of this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context): (46) "Provincial Act" shall mean an Act made by the Governor in Council, Lieutenant-Governor in Council or Chief Commissioner in Council of a Province under any of the Indian Councils Acts or the Government of India Act, 1915, or an Act made by the Local Legislature or the Governor of a Province under the Government of India Act, or an Act made by the Provincial Legislature or Governor of a Province or the Coorg Legislative Council under the Government of India Act, 1935;

Provincial Government: Section 3, General Clauses Act, 1897 [S100SN] (In this Act, and in all Central Acts and Regulations made after the commencement of this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context): (47) "Provincial Government" shall mean, as respects anything done before the commencement 26th January, 1950. of the Constitution, the authority or person authorised at the relevant date to administer executive Government in the Province in question;

public nuisance: Section 3, General Clauses Act, 1897 [S100SN] (In this Act, and in all Central Acts and Regulations made after the commencement of this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context): (48) "public nuisance" shall mean a public nuisance as defined in the Indian Penal Code;

registered: Section 3, General Clauses Act, 1897 [S100SN] (In this Act, and in all Central Acts and Regulations made after the commencement of this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context): (49) "registered", used with reference to a document, shall mean registered in India under the law for the time being in force for the registration of documents;

regulation: Section 3, General Clauses Act, 1897 [S100SN] (In this Act, and in all Central Acts and Regulations made after the commencement of this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context): (50) "Regulation" shall mean a Regulation made by the President under article 240 of the Constitution and shall include a Regulation made by the President under article 243 thereof and a Regulation made by the Central Government under the Government of India Act, 1870, or the Government of India Act, 1915, or the Government of India Act, 1935;

rule: Section 3, General Clauses Act, 1897 [S100SN] (In this Act, and in all Central Acts and Regulations made after the commencement of this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context): (51) "rule" shall mean a rule made in exercise of a power conferred by any enactment, and shall include a Regulation made as a rule under any enactment;

Schedule: Section 3, General Clauses Act, 1897 [S100SN] (In this Act, and in all Central Acts and Regulations made after the commencement of this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context): (52) "Schedule" shall mean a Schedule to the Act or Regulation in which the word occurs;

Scheduled District: Section 3, General Clauses Act, 1897 [S100SN] (In this Act, and in all Central Acts and Regulations made after the commencement of this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context): (53) "Scheduled District" shall mean a Scheduled District as defined in the Scheduled District Act, 1874;

section: Section 3, General Clauses Act, 1897 [S100SN] (In this Act, and in all Central Acts and Regulations made after the commencement of this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context): (54) "section" shall mean a section of the Act or Regulation in which the word occurs;

section: 336 more definitions.

ship: no definition held.

sign: no definition held.

son: no definition held.

state: no definition held.

state government: no definition held.

sub-section: no definition held.

swear: no definition held.

vessel: no definition held.

will: no definition held.

year: no definition held.

Made under this section, or naming it (0)

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Cited by (0)

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Not held (0)

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Duties published under this section (0)

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