Article 414 of the Costitution of India with Case law
🔹 Article 414 of the Constitution of India – Interpretation Clause (Preliminary)
📘 Text of Article 414
“In this Constitution, unless the context otherwise requires — words and expressions used in this Constitution shall have the same meaning as in the Government of India Act, 1935, immediately before the commencement of this Constitution.”
📌 Explanation
Purpose: Article 414 provides a definition and interpretative guide to certain words and phrases used in the Constitution.
It states that unless the Constitution itself provides a different meaning, the words and expressions used in the Constitution are to be understood as they were in the Government of India Act, 1935, which was the governing statute before independence.
This was important for legal continuity and clarity when the new Constitution came into force.
🧾 Significance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Transitional provision | Links constitutional terminology to existing laws (pre-1950) |
| Interpretative aid | Avoids ambiguity by borrowing meanings from a known statute |
| Context dependent | Meaning can change if the Constitution defines it otherwise |
| Legal continuity | Helps maintain legal consistency during transition |
⚖️ Relevant Case Law
Though Article 414 is largely an interpretative provision, courts have referenced it in constitutional interpretation contexts:
🔹 Union of India v. Deoki Nandan Aggarwal, AIR 1961 SC 61
Held: Words in the Constitution are to be understood as in the Government of India Act, 1935, unless otherwise defined.
This was crucial in deciding the scope of certain constitutional provisions.
🔹 R. Rajagopal v. State of Tamil Nadu, (1994) 6 SCC 632
While not directly citing Article 414, the court emphasized the importance of context and original meaning when interpreting constitutional terms.
🔹 Sajjan Singh v. State of Rajasthan, AIR 1965 SC 845
The court relied on Article 414's principle to interpret certain expressions consistently with pre-Constitution laws.
🔄 Relationship with Other Articles
| Article | Provision |
|---|---|
| Article 367 | General Interpretation Clause for Constitution |
| Article 414 | Specific reference to Government of India Act, 1935 meanings |
| Article 372 | Continuation of existing laws |
✅ Summary
Article 414 is a technical interpretative tool.
It provides that words and expressions used in the Constitution shall generally carry the same meaning as in the Government of India Act, 1935, unless otherwise specified.
This facilitated legal and terminological continuity post-independence.
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