Section 4, General Clauses Act, 1897 [S2D-B1V]
As at 7 September 2026. In force from 10 March 1897.
4. Application of foregoing definitions to previous enactments.—(1)The definitions in section 3 of the following words and expressions, that is to say, affidavit, barrister, * * * [The words " British India", [Government of India", [High Court", and Local Government", respectively repealed by A.O.1937. District Judge, father, * * * [The words " British India", [Government of India", [High Court", and Local Government", respectively repealed by A.O.1937. * * * [The words " Her Majesty" or the Queen" omitted by Act 18 of 1919, Section 3 and Sch.II.* * * [The words " British India", [Government of India", [High Court", and Local Government", respectively repealed by A.O.1937. immovable property, imprisonment, * * * [The words " British India", [Government of India", [High Court", and Local Government", respectively repealed by A.O.1937. Magistrate, month, movable property, oath, person, section, son, swear, will and year apply also, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context, to all Central Acts made after the third day of January, 1868, and to all Regulations made on or after the fourteenth day of January, 1887.(2)The definitions in the said section of the following words and expressions, that is to say, abet, Chapter, commencement, financial year, local authority, master, offence, part, public nuisance, registered, schedule, ship, sign, sub-section, and writing apply also, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context, to all Central Acts and Regulations made on or after the fourteenth day of January, 1887.[4-A. Application of certain definitions to Indian laws (1)The definitions in section 3 of the expressions British India, Central Act, Central Government, Chief Controlling Revenue Authority, Chief Revenue Authority, Constitution, Gazette, Government, Government securities, High Court, India, Indian Law, Indian State, merged territories, Official Gazette, Part A State, Part B State, Part C State, Provincial Government, State and State Government shall apply, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context, to all Indian laws.(2)In any Indian law, references, by whatever form of words, to revenues of the Central Government or to any State Government shall, on and from the first day of April, 1950, be construed as references to the Consolidated Fund of India or the Consolidated Fund of the State, as the case may be.]General Rules Of Construction
Defined terms in this text (45)
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;
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;
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;
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;
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;
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;
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.
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.
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.
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.
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;
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;
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: 363 more definitions.
ship: 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): (55) "ship" shall include every description of vessel used in navigation not exclusively propelled by oars;
sign: 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): (56) "sign", with its grammatical variations and cognate expressions, shall, with reference to a person who is unable to write his name, include mark with its grammatical variations and cognate expressions;
son: 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): (57) "son", in the case of any one whose personal law permits adoption, shall include an adopted son;
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): (58) "State"(a)as respects any period before the commencement of the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, shall mean a Part A State, a Part B State or a Part C State; and(b)as respects any period after such commencement, shall mean a State specified in the First Schedule to the Constitution and shall include a Union territory;](59)State Act shall mean an Act passed by the Legislature of a State established or continued by the Constitution;
State 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): (60) "State Government",(a)as respects anything done before the commencement 26th January, 1950. of the Constitution, shall mean, in a Part A State, the Provincial Government of the corresponding Province, in a Part B State, the authority or person authorised at the relevant date to exercise executive Government in the corresponding Acceding State, and in a Part C State, the Central Government, * The word "and" omitted by the Adaptation of Laws (No.1) Order, 1956.;(b)as respects anything done [after the commencement of the Constitution and before the commencement of the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956], shall mean, in a Part A State, the Governor, in a Part B State, the Rajpramukh, and in a Part C State, the Central Government;(c)[ as respects anything done or to be done after the commencement of the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, shall mean, in a State, the Governor, and in a Union territory, the Central Government; and shall, in relation to functions entrusted under article 258-A of the Constitution to the Government of India, include the Central Government acting within the scope of the authority given to it under that article] ;
sub-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): (61) "sub-section" shall mean a sub-section of the section in which the word occurs;
swear: 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): (62) "swear", with its grammatical variations and cognate expressions, shall include affirming and declaring in the case of persons by law allowed to affirm or declare instead of swearing;(62-A) Union territory shall mean any Union territory specified in the First Schedule to the Constitution and shall include any other territory comprised within the territory of India but not specified in that Schedule;
will: 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): (64) "will" shall include a codicil and every writing making a voluntary posthumous disposition of property;
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): "year" shall mean a year reckoned according to the British calendar
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