Impair Materially - Definition - Law Dictionary Home Dictionary Definition impair-materially

Definition :

Impair materially, in s. 13(2)(iii) of the East Punjab Rent Restriction Act, 1949, the meaning of the expression 'to impair materially' in common parlance would mean to diminish in quality, strength or value substantially. In other words to make a thing or substance worse and deteriorate. The word 'impair' cannot be said to have a fixed meaning. It is a relative term affording different meaning in different context and situations. Here in the context the term 'impair materially' has been used to mean, considerable decrease in quality which may be measured with reference to the antecedent state of things as it existed earlier in point of time as compared to a later stage after the alleged change is made or effected suggesting impairment, Gurbachan Singh v. Shivalak Rubber Industries, (1996) 2 SCC 626: AIR 1996 SC 3057 (3061).