Q.
What do you understand by Beneficial Construction? Explain the statement,
"Beneficial construction is a tendency rather than a rule".
A general rule of interpretation is that if a word used in a statute excludes certain cases in its common meaning, it should not be constrained unnecessarily to include those cases. An exception to this rule is that when the objectives of the statute are not met by excluding the cases, then the word may be interpreted extensively so as to include those cases. However, when a word is ambiguous i.e. if it has multiple meanings, which meaning should be understood by that word? This is the predicament that is resolved by the principle of Beneficial Construction. When a statute is meant for the benefit of a particular class, and if a word in the statute is capable of two meanings, one which would preserve the benefits and one which would not, then the meaning that preserves the benefit must be adopted. It is important to note that omissions will not be supplied by the court. Only when multiple meanings are possible, can the court pick the beneficial one. Thus, where the court has to choose between a wider mean that carries out the objective of the legislature better and a narrow meaning, then it usually chooses the former. Similarly, when the language used by the legislature fails to achieve the objective of a statute, an extended meaning could be given to it to achieve that objective, if the language is fairly susceptible to the extended meaning. This is quite evident in the case of B Shah vs Presiding Officer, AIR 1978, where Section 5 of Maternity Benefits Act, 1961 was is question, where an expectant mother could take 12 weeks of maternity leave on full salary. In this case, a women who used to work 6 days a week was paid for only 6x12=72 days instead of 7x12=84 days. SC held that the words 12 weeks were capable of two meanings and one meaning was beneficial to the woman. Since it is a beneficial legislation, the meaning that gives more benefit to the woman must be used.
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. For example, in the case of Alembic Chemical Works vs Workmen AIR 1961, an industrial tribunal awarded more number of paid leaves to the workers than what Section 79(1) of Factories Act recommended. This was challenged by the appellant. SC held that the enactment being a welfare legislation for the workers, it had to be beneficially constructed in the favor of worker and thus, if the words are capable of two meanings, the one that gives benefit to the workers must be used.
Similarly, in U Unichoyi vs State of Kerala, 1963, the question was whether setting of a minimum wage through Minimum Wages Act, 1948 is 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. In an under developed country where unemployment is rampant, it is possible that workers may become ready to work for extremely low wages but that should not happen.
A general rule of interpretation is that if a word used in a statute excludes certain cases in its common meaning, it should not be constrained unnecessarily to include those cases. An exception to this rule is that when the objectives of the statute are not met by excluding the cases, then the word may be interpreted extensively so as to include those cases. However, when a word is ambiguous i.e. if it has multiple meanings, which meaning should be understood by that word? This is the predicament that is resolved by the principle of Beneficial Construction. When a statute is meant for the benefit of a particular class, and if a word in the statute is capable of two meanings, one which would preserve the benefits and one which would not, then the meaning that preserves the benefit must be adopted. It is important to note that omissions will not be supplied by the court. Only when multiple meanings are possible, can the court pick the beneficial one. Thus, where the court has to choose between a wider mean that carries out the objective of the legislature better and a narrow meaning, then it usually chooses the former. Similarly, when the language used by the legislature fails to achieve the objective of a statute, an extended meaning could be given to it to achieve that objective, if the language is fairly susceptible to the extended meaning. This is quite evident in the case of B Shah vs Presiding Officer, AIR 1978, where Section 5 of Maternity Benefits Act, 1961 was is question, where an expectant mother could take 12 weeks of maternity leave on full salary. In this case, a women who used to work 6 days a week was paid for only 6x12=72 days instead of 7x12=84 days. SC held that the words 12 weeks were capable of two meanings and one meaning was beneficial to the woman. Since it is a beneficial legislation, the meaning that gives more benefit to the woman must be used.
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. For example, in the case of Alembic Chemical Works vs Workmen AIR 1961, an industrial tribunal awarded more number of paid leaves to the workers than what Section 79(1) of Factories Act recommended. This was challenged by the appellant. SC held that the enactment being a welfare legislation for the workers, it had to be beneficially constructed in the favor of worker and thus, if the words are capable of two meanings, the one that gives benefit to the workers must be used.
Similarly, in U Unichoyi vs State of Kerala, 1963, the question was whether setting of a minimum wage through Minimum Wages Act, 1948 is 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. In an under developed country where unemployment is rampant, it is possible that workers may become ready to work for extremely low wages but that should not happen.
