All India Bar Examination (AIBE) 2-II Previous Year Question Papers with Answers

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43.

Which of the following statements is the most accurate description of the principle of ejusdem generis ?

A: Where a complex sentence has more than once subject, and more than one object, the provision is to be read distributively by applying each object to its appropriate subject.
B: If a provision covers a number of matters but mentions only some of them, then these are taken to be excluded from the proposition.
C: A word of phrase is not to be construed as it stands alone but in the light of its surroundings.
D: Where a sentence in a statute contains several antecedents and several consequences, they are to be read distributively.
E: Where a list of two or more items belonging to the same genus is followed by general words, the general words are construed confined to the same class.

The answer is: E

Explanation

E: Where a list of two or more items belonging to the same genus is followed by general words, the general words are construed confined to the same class.

Explanation :

The principle of ejusdem generis is a rule of statutory interpretation used in legal contexts. It suggests that when a list or series of specific words is followed by more general words, the general words are interpreted to refer to things of the same kind or class as the specific words. In other words, it limits the scope of the general words to items that share characteristics or attributes with the specific words that precede them. This principle helps avoid overly broad interpretations and ensures that the statute's intention is followed.

Option E accurately describes the principle of ejusdem generis, emphasizing the relationship between specific and general words in a list.