Beneficial Construction

Presented By,
Jisha Shaji
Roll no : 47
Class : 8/5
Introduction
 Statutory interpretation in its broadest sense is the process of
determining the true meaning of a written document. There are
three main rules to interpret a statute; the literal, golden and
mischief rule .
 The literal rule uses the plain ordinary meaning of words. The
golden rule is an extension of the literal rule. The mischief rule
allows judges slightly more discretion. It looks at the gap or the
mischief the statute was intended to cover.
 Beneficial Construction is a subsidiary rule of interpretation
 Beneficial construction

 Beneficial construction is also known as liberal construction.

It means interpretation of a statute in the widest possible
meaning of the language permitted.
 Beneficial Construction is an interpretation to secure remedy
to the victim who is unjustly denied the relief. Such beneficial
construction is mainly applicable in social welfare and labour
legislations.
 The general rule of the statute is that if a word used in the statute excludes certain
cases in its common meaning, it should not be forced unnecessarily to include those
cases. An exception to this rule is that when the main objective of the statute is not
achieved by excluding those cases then the word may be interpreted on the basis of the
case requires. 
 This rule of interpretation will benefit individuals. Whenever there is an ambiguity or
when the which would take the benefit away from the individual, so the meaning which
prevails over the benefit to the individuals should be adopted. 
 The courts should be generous towards the persons to whom benefits are conferred by
the statute. Here it involves the judges to give the widest meaning to the statute in order
to protect the interest of the parties, if you look into certain statutes the main purpose is
to benefit and protect the interest of the person, for example, Industrial Disputes Act,
Consumer Protection Act, Juvenile Justice Act and all labour-related laws. Provision is
capable of giving two meanings where one would preserve the benefit and another.
Beneficial Construction –A tendency rather
than a rule.
 It is said by Maxwell, that Beneficial Construction is a
tendency and not a rule. The reason is that this
principle is based on human tendency to be fair,
accommodating, and just. Instead of restricting the
people from getting the benefit of the Statute, Court
tends to include as many classes as it can while
remaining faithful to the wordings of the Statute.
 Beneficial Construction of statutes have enormously
played an important role in the development and
beneficial interpretation of socio – economic
legislations and have always encouraged the Indian
legislators to make more laws in favour of the
backward class
Limitations
 There are certain restrictions which the Court has to take
care of which at the time of application have to be adhered
to
1. Where the Courts find that by the application of the rule
of beneficial construction, it would be relegislating a
provision of statute either by substituting, adding or
altering any provisions of the act.
2. When there is no ambiguity in a provision of a statute so
construed. If the provision is plain, unambiguous and
does not give rise to any doubt, the rule of beneficial
construction cannot be applied.
 Case laws
U Unichoyi vs State of Kerala, 1963,the question was whether
setting of a minimum wage through Minimum Wages Act, 1948 is a
violative of Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution because the Act did
not define what is minimum wage and did not take into account the
capacity of the employer to pay.
It was held that the Act is a beneficial legislation and it must be
construed in favor of the worker.Being a developing Country
where unemployment is rampant,it is possible that workers may
become ready to work for extremely low wages but that should not
happen.Hence,minimum wages giving is not against or contrary to
the Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution.
In Pratap Singh v State of Jharkand.
Another example of beneficial construction of a statute is the Juvenile
Justice Act.The earlier act of 1986 was replaced with a new Juvenile
Justice Act in 2000.Whereas the 1986 Act defined the term
‘juvenile’as boy not having attained age of 16yrs or a girl not having
attained the age of 18yrs. The 2000 Act defined ‘juvenile’ to mean a
person who has not completed 18yrs of age.
In the landmark Case of B shah v Presiding Officer, Labour Court,
AIR 1978 SC 12,Court applied beneficent rule of construction in
continuing section 5 of the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961,which make
up for her dissipated energy and take care of child.
 Madan Singh v. UOI, 1999
 In this case, it was held that it is the duty of the court to interpret
the provisions of the law, as every case will not be having the same
situation, and the court should interpret especially when there are
beneficial provisions related to the parties. The interpretation as to
be made in the liberal sense so as to get a wider meaning and
understanding of the word rather than restricting the meaning which
would probably negate the whole case. And this would destroy the
complete purpose of the law which is to protect the public interest.
 Hindustan Level Ltd v Ashok Vishnu Kate
 In this case, the court held that in a case which is related to
the prevention of unfair labour practices it should be made
completely in accordance with the labour point of view as
they are benefitting people here and while interpreting
Social Welfare Legislation also they should consider the
benefitting people of the society
 Conclusion

 The courts must be vigilant to ensure that benefits conferred

by welfare legislation must not be defeated by subtle devices. It
is duty of the court to get behind the smoke screen and
discover the true state of affairs. It can go behind the form and
see the substance of the transaction. The courts exist for the
society and in the event the courts feel the requirement in
accordance with principles of justice, equity and good
conscience, courts must rise up to the occasion to do
complete justice and meet expectation of the people.