Important Legal Definitions
Explore legal terms, clear definitions and practical examples.
Expressio Unius Est Exclusio Alterius
Canons of Statutory Interpretation
Definition
"The express mention of one thing excludes all others." A rule providing that when a statute expressly specifies or enumerates certain things, persons, or conditions, it impliedly excludes those that are not mentioned.
Example
In G.V.K. Industries Ltd. v. Income Tax Officer, the Supreme Court applied this maxim to conclude that where an entry in the Union List expressly specified taxation on particular assets, it impliedly excluded unmentioned categories from that specific power.