Shashikant Laxman Kale and another, Petitioners v. Union of India and another, Respondents.

Interpretation of Statutes- Object or purpose of statute- Circumstances necessitating enactment can be investigated- For this, statement of objects and reasons can be considered.

M.N. Venkatachaliah, N.D. Ojha and J.S. Verma, JJ

For determining the purpose or object of the legislation, it is permissible to investigate the circumstances which prevailed at the time when the law was passed, and which necessitated the passing of the law. For the limited purpose of appreciating the background and the antecedent factual matrix leading to the legislation, it is permissible to investigate the Statement of Objects and Reasons of the Bill which acted as the step to provide a remedy for the then existing malady.

22. A catchphrase possibly used as a populist measure to describe some provisions. While introducing the Bill in the Parliament can neither be determinative of, nor can it camouflage the true object of the legislation.

(Source: AIR 1990 Supreme Court 2114)