State of U.P. v. Babu Ram Upadhya
AIR 1961 SC 751 · Supreme Court of India
Whether 'shall' is mandatory depends on object, design and the consequence of non-compliance, not on the word alone.
Unit III · Interpretation of Statutes
Mandatory and directory provisions
Study aid only. Confirm statute numbers with the current bare Act and the official OU LL.B. (3-YDC) 2024–25 syllabus PDF.
Statute sections
| Act / instrument | Section | Name |
|---|---|---|
| General Clauses Act, 1897 | 6 | Effect of repeal |
| General Clauses Act, 1897 | 9 | Commencement and termination of time |
Landmark cases
Sharif-ud-Din v. Abdul Gani Lone
AIR 1980 SC 303 · Supreme Court of India
A provision is mandatory if disregard of it defeats the purpose of the enactment; otherwise it may be directory.
M. Pentiah v. Muddala Veeramallappa
AIR 1961 SC 1107 · Supreme Court of India
Directory requirements should be substantially complied with; the court looks at the balance of convenience and legislative purpose.