Meaning of Construction and

interpreatation and their

differences
The statute is defined as the will or order of
legislature, which is expressed in the form
of text. The traditional way to interpret or
construe a statute is to understand the
intention of the legislature.
The intention of the legislature could
incorporate the actual meaning and the
object. The process of interpretation and
construction assist the judiciary body in
determining the meaning and purpose of
the legislature. 
Interpretation helps in determining the
real meaning and intention of the
legislature.
On the other hand, construction is used to ascertain the legal
effect of the legal text.
The two terms are used interchangeably, but there exists a fine
line of difference between interpretation and construction in their
connotations.

Definition of Interpretation:
The term ‘interpretation of the statute’, means an understanding
of the law. It is the process adopted by the courts to determine
the meaning of legislature, by way of legislative form. It is used
to ascertain the actual connotation of the act or document along
with the intention of the legislature. It tends to clarify the
meaning of those terms and writings which are difficult to
understand.
According to Salmond, “Interpretation”  is the process by
which the Court seeks to ascertain the meaning of the legislature
through the medium of authoritative forms in which it is
expressed.
The process of enactment of the law and its
interpretation takes place at different
points of time and performed by two
different government bodies. The
interpretation of an act creates an
understanding between these two and
bridges the gap.

It aims at finding out the intention of the

author, i.e. the court needs to identify,
what the author means by the words
he/she has used in the text, that helps in
getting what is written in the document. In
short, interpretations object to ascertain
the intention of the statute by the words
Definition of Construction:
In law, ‘construction’ means the process of legal
exposition which determines the sense and
explanation of abstruse terms, writings etc. in the
statute and draws a conclusion on the basis of
logical reasoning, with respect to the subject that
lies above the direct expression of the legal text.
When it comes to the legal exposition of the
statute, act or any agreement, interpretation
precedes construction. While the interpretation of
the statute, is all about exploring the written text,
whereas construction is used in the broader sense,
i.e. it not only helps in determining the sense and
explanation of the provisions of the act but also
elucidates its legal effect.
The basic principle of construction
of a statute is to read it in a literal
manner, meaning that by
elucidating the words used in the
statute, ordinarily and
grammatically, if it results in
ambiguity and is likely to convey
another meaning then the court
can opt for its literal meaning.

 However, if no such absurdity is

possible, the fundamental rules of
 Comparison chart
Interpretation Construction
1. Interpretation 1. Construction means
drawing inferences about
implies the the subject, that are
identification of above the direct
true sense of the expression of text.
2. Legal effect
statute.
3. Legal text exhibits
2. Linguistic
ambiguous meaning and
meaning the court has to decide
3. Court complies whether the words used
in the legal text covers
with simple the case or not.
meaning of the
legal text.
Key Differences Between Interpretation and
Construction

The difference between interpretation and construction can

be drawn clearly on the following grounds:
In law, interpretation refers to, understanding the words and
true sense in the provisions of the statute. On the other
hand, construction is described as drawing conclusions, in
relation to the case, that lie beyond the outright expression
of the legal text.
While interpretation is all about the linguistic meaning of the
legal text, Construction determines the legal effect of the
words and writings of the statute.
When the simple meaning of the legal text is to be drawn,
then that will be called an interpretation. Conversely, when
the literal meaning of the words used in the legal text results
in ambiguity, then construction is opted, so as to decide
whether the case is covered by it or not.