In a shipping collision case, the court gave guidance on how a statute should be interpreted inder the literal rule: ‘If the words of an Act are clear, you must follow them, even though they lead to a manifest absurdity. The court has nothing to do with the question whether the legislature has committed an absurdity. [However] If the words of an Act admit two interpretations, and if one interpretation leads to an absurdity, and the other does not, the Court will conclude the legislature did not intend the absurdity and adopt the other interpretation’
Judges:
Lord Esher MR
Citations:
[1892] CA
Jurisdiction:
England and Wales
Litigation Practice
Updated: 17 June 2022; Ref: scu.200470