Constitution Section 367 — Interpretation

Part XIX — MISCELLANEOUS

Constitutional

Summary

Section 367 explains how to interpret the Constitution. It says that the General Clauses Act of 1897 will be used to interpret the Constitution, just as it is used to interpret laws made by the former Dominion of India’s legislature, unless the context requires a different meaning. Any mention in the Constitution of laws made by Parliament or a State legislature also includes ordinances issued by the President or a Governor. For the Constitution, a “foreign State” means any country other than India, but the President can issue an order declaring a particular country not to be a foreign State for specific purposes, as long as it follows any law made by Parliament.

Official Text

(1) Unless the context otherwise requires, the General Clauses Act, 1897, shall, subject to any adaptations and modifications that may be made therein under article 372, apply for the interpretation of this Constitution as it applies for the interpretation of an Act of the Legislature of the Dominion of India.

(2) Any reference in this Constitution to Acts or laws of, or made by, Parliament, or to Acts or laws of, or made by, the Legislature of a State , shall be construed as including a reference to an Ordinance made by the President or, to an Ordinance made by a Governor , as the case may be.

(3) For the purposes of this Constitution “foreign State” means any State other than India:Provided that, subject to the provisions of any law made by Parliament, the President may by order declare any State not to be a foreign State for such purposes as may be specified in the order.

(4) * * * *