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Section9
The General Clauses Act, 1897

Commencement and termination of time

In force From 11 Mar 1897 Act 10 of 1897 As on 14 Oct 2026

Act 10 of 1897 Ministry Law and Justice Enacted 11 Mar 1897 In force 11 Mar 1897 Instruments 1

Section 9 of the General Clauses Act, 1897 deals with commencement and termination of time. In any [Central Act] or Regulation made after the commencement of this Act, it shall be sufficient, for the purpose of excluding the first in a series of days or any other period of time, to use the word "from", and, for the purpose of including the last in a series of days or any other period of ti The Act came into force on 11 Mar 1897.

(1) In any 1[Central Act] or Regulation made after the commencement of this Act, it shall be sufficient, for the purpose of excluding the first in a series of days or any other period of time, to use the word "from", and, for the purpose of including the last in a series of days or any other period of time, to use the word "to".

(2) This section applies also to all 2[Central Acts] made after the third day of January, 1868, and to all Regulations made on or after the fourteenth day of January, 1887.

Section 9, The General Clauses Act, 1897 (Act 10 of 1897).

Related judgements & precedents

These are some judgments that construed this section, and hold precedence value. They hold authority on how to read, interpret and use this section.

  1. Bhola Singh vs The State of Madhya Pradesh

    High Court 23 Nov 2023 Persuasive (Other HC)

    Court's Decision & Legal Precedent

    When the statutory period of 180 days (or 60/90 days as applicable) for filing charge-sheet expires without the charge-sheet being filed, an indefeasible right to default bail accrues to the accused. This right is computed by including the date of remand as the first day of the stipulated period. The date of remand cannot be excluded from this computation, as such exclusion would create a legal vacuum, violate personal liberty protections under the Constitution, and militate against the legislative intent of protecting accused from prolonged custody due to investigative delays. This right cannot be defeated by the prosecution filing the charge-sheet after the accused has offered to furnish bail.

    On this section: Provides that when a period is delimited by statute with a beginning and end (marked by 'from' and 'to'), the first day is excluded and the last day is included. The court held this is NOT applicable to Section 167 CrPC because there is no fixed 'from' and 'to' period for investigation completion.

    Read the full order on eCourts India

The holding above is the ratio decidendi as extracted from the judgment by eCourts India, reproduced unaltered — it is a rendering of the court's reasoning, not a substitute for its words. Read the order itself before relying on it.

Made under this section, and citing it

1 instrument names this provision in its title or its text without being made under it.

All subordinate legislation

Questions about Section 9

What have the courts held on Section 9 of the General Clauses Act?

Bhola Singh vs The State of Madhya Pradesh (23 Nov 2023) is the leading judgment on this section among those set out below: Provides that when a period is delimited by statute with a beginning and end (marked by 'from' and 'to'), the first day is excluded and the last day is included. The court held this is NOT applicable to Section 167 CrPC because there is no fixed 'from' and 'to' period for investigation completion.

How do I find court cases under Section 9 of the General Clauses Act?

In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: General Clauses Act 9, section 9 General Clauses Act, section 9 of the General Clauses Act. People searching for it also type general clauses act 1897 section 9. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome. 1 reported judgment on this section is set out on this page, beginning with Bhola Singh vs The State of Madhya Pradesh (23 Nov 2023).

What should I read with Section 9 of the General Clauses Act, and has it changed?

One instrument names it without being made under it, most recently Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (Maintenance of Records)Maharashtra Rules,2025 (2025).

When did Section 9 of the General Clauses Act come into force?

Section 9 of the General Clauses Act, cited as General Clauses Act 9, came into force on 11 Mar 1897, having been enacted on 11 Mar 1897. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.

Other sections of this Act

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. Text as in force on 14 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.