# The Process of Interpretation and Its Aids
When a court is asked to interpret a statute, it does not start from a blank slate. Various aids assist the process.
## The four broad aids
1. Statutory aids illustrated by the General Clauses Act, 1897 — definitions and rules of construction that apply across all Central legislation (e.g., meaning of 'person', 'month', 'document').
2. Statutory aids illustrated by specific definitions contained in individual Acts — every Act usually has its own Section 2 (definitions clause) which is binding within that Act.
3. Aids illustrated by case-law relating to interpretation of statutes — judicial precedents on how language has been interpreted.
4. Aids illustrated by Rules of Interpretation — primary and secondary rules developed by courts (e.g., literal rule, ejusdem generis, noscitur a sociis).
## Hierarchy of application
```
Step 1 → Read the definitions in the Act itself.
Step 2 → If undefined, refer General Clauses Act, 1897.
Step 3 → Apply rules of interpretation (literal, harmonious, etc.).
Step 4 → Look at case-law if conflict persists.
```
## Why this layered approach?
Each layer respects the hierarchy of legislative intent. A definition inside the Act prevails over a general definition because it represents the specific will of Parliament for that statute. Only when the specific Act is silent do we travel to general law (General Clauses Act) and then to judicially developed rules.