Legislation - Definition - Law Dictionary Home Dictionary Definition legislation

Definition :

Legislation, a legislation, it is trite, is not confined to a statute enacted by Parliament or the legislature of a State, which would include delegated legislation and subordinate legislation or an executive order made by the Union of India, State or any other statutory authority. In a case where the field is not covered by any statutory rule, executive instructions issued in this behalf shall also come within the purview thereof. Situs of office of Parliament, legislature of a State or authorities empowered to make subordinate legislation would not by itself constitute any cause of action or cases arising. In other words, framing of a statute, statutory rule or issue of an executive order or instruction would not confer jurisdiction upon a court only because of the situs of the office of the market thereof, Kusum Ingots & Alloys Ltd. v. Union of India, (2004) 6 SCC 254 (263).

--the making of law; any set of statutes.

The distinction between a 'legislative' act and a 'judicial' act is well known, though in some specific instances the line which separates one category from the other may not be easily discernible. Adjudication of the rights of the parties according to law enacted by the legislature is a judicial function. In the performance of this function, the court interprets and gives effect to the intent and mandate of the legislature as embodied in the statute. On the other hand, it is for the legislature to lay down the law, prescribing norms of conduct which will govern parties and transactions and to require the court to give effect to that law, I.N. Saksena v. State of Madhya Pradesh, AIR 1976 SC 2250 (2254). See also Arcot N. Veeraswami v. M.G. Ramachandran, AIR 1988 Mad 192.