Important Legal Definitions
Explore legal terms, clear definitions and practical examples.
Generalia Specialibus Non Derogant
Canons of Statutory Interpretation
Definition
"General provisions do not derogate from special ones." A canon of construction providing that if a general enactment or clause conflicts with a special, specialized statute or section on the same subject, the special law prevails over the general law.
Example
In Commercial Tax Officer, Rajasthan v. Binani Cements Ltd., the Supreme Court held that the specialized, non-obstante provisions of the State Industrial Incentive Policy prevailed over the general provisions of the State Sales Tax Act under this maxim.