constitutional-law legal-terms definition interpretation
What does the phrase &quot;in this act unless context requires otherwise&quot; mean?
<p>Various <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commonwealth_of_Nations" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Commonwealth</a> countries, like <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaysia" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Malaysia</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singapore" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Singapore</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India" rel="nofollow noreferrer">India</a>, use this phrase in sections which include definitions or explanation of a law. What does it mean? E.g., Article 13 of the Indian Constitution has the phrase</p>
<blockquote>
<p>in this article unless context requires otherwise: law means any rule, order or custom established by a competent authority</p>
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<p>Can this be used to broaden or narrow the scope based on the context?</p>

<blockquote>
<p>what does the phrase &quot;in this act unless context requires otherwise&quot; mean?</p>
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<p>It means that the provision or statutory definition is not to be imposed where its application would make no sense or would lead to an absurd outcome.</p>
<p>Using the example point out, statutory or judicial references to &quot;<em>laws of physics</em>&quot;, &quot;<em>law of supply and demand</em>&quot;, and so forth are not to be construed as enactments or rulings issued by some authority. Accordingly, such laws are not susceptible to violation, enforcement, or repeal.</p>

<p>This just establishes a presumptive rule of interpretation that can be overcome by context.</p>
<p>A similar phrase is used in Interpretation Acts in Canada.</p>
