Commencement, Computation, Distance, Duty, Gender & Number (Sections 9–13)
# Sections 9 to 13 — Time, Distance, Duty & Linguistic Rules
## Section 9 — Commencement and Termination of Time
Word
Effect
"from"
Excludes the first day
"to"
Includes the last day
Trick to remember: "From" pushes you forward (skip day 1); "to" pulls you in (include the last day).
## Section 10 — Computation of Time
If a proceeding must be done on a particular day OR within a prescribed period, and the court/office is closed on that day (or on the last day of the period), then the proceeding shall be conducted on the next day when the court/office is open.
### Important Limitation
This benefit applies to filing in courts/offices, not to other acts.
## Section 11 — Measurement of Distances
Distance is measured in a straight line on a horizontal plane (i.e., as the crow flies, not along roads), unless specified otherwise.
## Section 12 — Duty to be Taken Pro Rata
If a duty of customs/excise is leviable on a given quantity (by weight, measure or value), a like duty is leviable at the same rate on any greater or lesser quantity. (Proportionate / pro rata)
## Section 13 — Gender and Number
In all Central Acts and Regulations, unless contrary intention appears:
1. Words importing masculine gender shall include feminine.
2. Words in singular shall include plural, and vice versa.
### Quick Summary Table
Section
Rule
One-Liner
9
From/To
From = exclude day 1; To = include last day
10
Court closed
Move to next working day
11
Distance
Straight line, horizontal plane
12
Duty
Pro rata for more or less quantity
13
Language
Masculine ↔ Feminine; Singular ↔ Plural
Worked example
### Example 1
Example — Section 9
A notice says "file within 10 days from 1st June." When is the last day?
Answer: Exclude 1st June (the 'from' day). Day 1 = 2 June, Day 10 = 11 June. Last day to file = 11 June.
### Example 2
Example — Section 10
Last day of a 30-day appeal period falls on a Sunday (court closed).
Answer: Appeal can be filed on Monday (next working day) and will be treated as in-time.
### Example 3
Example — Section 11
A statute prohibits liquor sale within 500 metres of a school. The shop is 600 m by road but 400 m in a straight line.
Answer: Distance is measured in a straight line — the shop is 400 m, so it violates the rule.
### Example 4
Example — Section 13
A section says "any person who commits this offence shall be punished." 'Person' uses masculine pronouns in later sub-clauses.
Answer: Reading with Section 13, masculine pronouns include feminine — women offenders are equally covered.
⚠️ Common exam mistakes
Reversing the from/to rule under Section 9.
Extending Section 10 to acts done outside court/office (e.g., paying tax online) — it primarily protects court/office filings.
Measuring distance along the road instead of as the crow flies.
Forgetting the 'unless contrary intention appears' rider in Section 13.
Bare-Act text Sections 9 to 13 · The General Clauses Act, 1897 · click to expand
Section 9 — In any Central Act or Regulation made after the commencement of this Act, it shall be sufficient, for the purpose of excluding the first in a series of days or any other period of time, to use the word 'from', and, for the purpose of including the last in a series of days or any other period of time, to use the word 'to'.
Section 13 — In all Central Acts and Regulations, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context, — (1) words importing the masculine gender shall be taken to include females; and (2) words in the singular shall include the plural, and vice versa.