Interpreting Law with Mimamsa Sutras: Codified into Rules of Interpretation

The author has brought into focus the pioneering work on interpretation (Mimamsa Sutras or Rules of Interpretation) produced more than 2500 years ago by rishi Jaimini - an example of wisdom par excellence. Mimamsa runs into 2668 sutras spread over 12 Chapters and encompasses all interpretational principles evolved in the West and much more.

These rules are ideally applicable to the entire ambit of legal interpretation civil, criminal and statutory texts. Despite these qualities the Sutras remained in oblivion, by and large till now because of it being in Sanskrit and voluminous.

However basing on the authentic English translation of the entire Mimamsa text by Pandit Mohan Lal Sandal (originally published in 1923) now in public domain (on internet) the author has been able to codify the Sutras into 109 Rules of interpretation.

It is hoped that this will reduce our dependence on Maxwell and others and substantively affect the quality of legal work having the benefit of our ancient thought process.

This book may prove to be cornerstone for the Bar and the Bench in their day to day working as also a foundation for the law students.

Key Features:

• Mimamsa Sutras propounded more than 2500 years ago for interpreting the Vedas.
• They run into 2668 sturas spread over 12 Chapters.
• The Sutras encompass all interpretational principles evolved in the West and contain much more, covering the whole gamut of legal interpretation.
• Ideal for resolution of all types of legal disputes.
• This book is the first ever codification of the Mimamsa Sutras into manageable number of rules (109) of interpretation for ease of use by the Bar and the Bench as well as understanding by law students.
• Rules codified into common parlance language avoiding legal jargon and Latin maxims as far as feasible.

Table of Contents:

Preface
Table of Cases
Introduction
1.1 Historical overview
1.2  Ancient Indian systems
       1.2.1   Nyâya theory
       1.2.2   Mîmâmsâ Sûtras
1.3  Application of Mîmâmsâ principles to Hindu law (Case rulings)
1.4  Application of Mîmâmsâ principles to secular laws (Case rulings)
1.5  Constraints in application of Mîmâmsâ principles to modern interpretation
1.6  Maxwell vis-a-vis Mîmâmsâ
The Codified Mîmâmsâ Sûtras
2.1 The Vedas
2.2 The Mîmâmsâ Sûtras
2.3  Arrangement of the Mîmâmsâ Sûtras
2.4 The Sûtras codified
2.5 Theory of words
2.6  Theory of sentences
2.7 Order or sequence
Appendix : Extracts of Important Judgments
Index