Immediately - Definition - Law Dictionary Home Dictionary Definition immediately

Definition :

Immediately, in a statute, means within a reasonable time. See Maxwell on Statutes, 2nd Edn. 423.

The expression 'immediately' is only meant to convey 'reasonable dispatch and promptitude' and no more, Tulsiram v. State of Madhya Pradesh, AIR 1985 SC 299: (1984) 4 SCC 487: (1985) 1 SCR 949.

The word 'immediately' is interpreted to convey 'reasonable despatch and promptitude' intending to convey a sense of continuity rather than urgency, Rajendra v. State of Madhya Pradesh, AIR 1991 SC 1757 (1759): (1991) 3 SCC 620. [Prevention of Food Adulteration Rules, 1955, R. 9A ]

The word 'immediately' connotes proximity in time to comply and proximity in taking steps to re-sell on failure to comply the requirement of deposit as first condition that is to take place within relatively short-interval of time and without any other intervening recurrence, Rao Mahmood Ahmed Khan v. Ranbir Singh, 1995 Supp (4) SCC 275: AIR 1995 SC 2195 (2198). [U.P. Zamindari Abolition and Land Reform Rules (1952), R. 285 D]

Immediately, in its strict sense excludes any intervening time but from earliest judicial decision it has almost invariably meant the same as forthwith, namely with speedy and prompt action and as quickly as is reasonably possible, Stroud's Judicial Dictionary, 6th Edn., (2000) Vol. 2, p. 1193.