The General Clauses Act, 1897
An Act to consolidate and extend the General Clauses Act, 1868 and 1887.
Administered by. Ministry of Law and Justice, Legislative Department · Other Acts of 1897
Preamble
THE GENERAL CLAUSES ACT, 1897
ACT NO. 10 OF 18971
[11th March, 1897.] An Act to consolidate and extend the General Clauses Act, 1868 and 1887.
WHEREAS it is expedient to consolidate and extend the General Clauses Acts, 1868 (1 of 1868) and 1887 (1 of 1887); it is hereby enacted as follows:--
What this Act covers
Summary of the General Clauses Act, 1897
Key Features
• Definitions: Explains terms such as "Central Government," "State Government," "person," "immovable property," "movable property," "document," "month," and others.
• Computation of Time: Sets rules for calculating time periods prescribed under laws.
• Powers and Appointments: States that the power to appoint a person generally includes the power to suspend or dismiss that person, unless a law provides otherwise.
• Power to Issue Orders: A power to issue notifications, rules, or orders generally includes the power to amend, vary, or rescind them.
• Repeal and Re-enactment: Provides rules on what happens when a law is repealed or replaced, including protection of rights, liabilities, penalties, and legal proceedings that arose under the repealed law unless the new law indicates otherwise.
• Gender and Number: Unless the context requires otherwise:
• Words in the masculine gender include females.
• Words in the singular include the plural, and vice versa.
• Meaning of "Person": Includes individuals, companies, associations, and bodies of individuals.
• Official Powers: Clarifies how powers conferred on public authorities should be exercised.
Sections
Type to filter. 36 sections.
- 1Short title
- 2[Repealed.]
- 3Definitions
- 4Application of foregoing definitions to previous enactments
- 4AApplication of certain definitions to Indian Laws
- 5Coming into operation of enactments
- 5A[Repealed.]
- 6Effect of repeal
- 6ARepeal of Act making textual amendment in Act or Regulation
- 7Revival of repealed enactments
- 8Construction of references to repealed enactments
- 9Commencement and termination of time
- 10Computation of time
- 11Measurement of distances
- 12Duty to be taken pro rata in enactments
- 13Gender and number
- 13A[Repealed.]
- 14Powers conferred to be exercisable from time to time
- 15Power to appoint to include power to appoint ex officio
- 16Power to appoint to include power to suspend or dismiss
- 17Substitution of functionaries
- 18Successors
- 19Official chiefs and subordinates
- 20Construction of orders, etc., issued under enactments
- 21Power to issue, to include power to add to, amend, vary or rescind notifications, orders, rules or bye-laws
- 22Making of rules or bye-laws and issuing of orders between passing and commencement of enactment
- 23Provisions applicable to making of rules or bye-laws after previous publication
- 24Continuation of orders, etc., issued under enactments repealed and re-enacted
- 25Recovery of fines
- 26Provision as to offences punishable under two or more enactments
- 27Meaning of service by post
- 28Citation of enactments
- 29Saving for previous enactments, rules and bye-laws
- 30Application of Act to Ordinances
- 30ARepealed
- 31[Repealed.]
Schedules
This Act has 1 schedule. A schedule is published as a document of its own; the text is reproduced on its page where it has been read, and the document is mirrored here either way.
- THE SCHEDULE21 words
Rules made under this Act
4 sets of Rules. India Code publishes Rules as a record and a document rather than as text, so these are indexed here and not reproduced. All Rules.
- Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (Maintenance of Records)Maharashtra Rules,20252025
- The Government of Maharashtra is making the following rules in terms of the provisions of Section 48(1) and Section 173(1) and Section 174(1).2024
- Maharashtra Factories (Safety Audit) Rules, 20142014
- Government hereby rescinds the Government Notification No. 10/3/89-RD dated 20-11-19951996
Related Acts
- The Partition Act, 189310 sections
- The Madras City Civil Court Act, 189218 sections
- The Easements (Extending Act 5 of 1882), 18911 sections
- The Guardians and Wards Act, 189055 sections
- The Charitable Endowments Act, 189017 sections
- The Bengal, Agra and Assam Civil Courts Act, 188740 sections
- The Provincial Small Cause Courts Act, 188737 sections
- The Suits Valuation Act, 188712 sections
Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Every one of the 36 sections of this Act has its own page. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.