The Tamil Nadu General Clauses Act, 1891

What the Act governs

The Tamil Nadu General Clauses Act, 1891 provides common definitions and interpretation principles for Tamil Nadu Acts made after its commencement, unless the subject, context or another Act shows a different intention. It also provides rules about when later Acts commence and when powers to make rules or issue orders may be exercised.

The Tamil Nadu General Clauses Act, 1867 does not apply to the 1891 Act or to Tamil Nadu Acts passed after the 1891 Act commenced.

Why it matters for land and documents

The Tamil Nadu General Clauses Act, 1891 does not itself transfer land or create a land approval process. Its definitions may affect how words are understood when they appear in later Tamil Nadu legislation.

Key property and document definitions include:

• “Immovable property” includes land, benefits arising out of land, things attached to the earth, and things permanently fastened to anything attached to the earth.
• “Movable property” means property of every description except immovable property.
• A “document” is matter expressed or described on any substance through letters, figures, marks or a combination of them, where it is intended or capable of being used as evidence.
• “Registered”, when used for a document, means registered in India under the law in force for registration of documents.
• “Writing” includes printing, lithography, photography and other ways of visibly representing or reproducing words.
• “Sign” includes a mark when a person cannot write their name.

Other interpretation rules

The Tamil Nadu General Clauses Act, 1891 also provides that:

• A financial year begins on the first day of April.
• Good faith requires due care and attention.
• Singular words include the plural, and plural words include the singular.
• Words using the masculine gender include females.
• A year and month are calculated according to the British calendar.
• A notification means a notification published in the Official Gazette.
• A local authority includes specified bodies or another authority legally entitled or entrusted by the Government to control or manage a municipal or local fund.

Commencement and rule-making

A later Act covered by the relevant Chapter, if it does not specify a commencement day, begins when the applicable assent is first published in the Official Gazette. Where a later Act does not commence immediately, an authorised government or authority may make rules or issue orders after passage, but they do not take effect until that Act commences.