When a Central Act or Regulation repeals an earlier enactment, the repeal does NOT automatically wipe out everything that happened under the old law. Unless a contrary intention appears, the repeal shall not:
## What a Repeal Does NOT Affect
#
Protected Item
Plain-English Meaning
1
Previous operation of the repealed Act
Anything already done/suffered under the old Act stays valid
2
Rights, privileges, obligations or liabilities acquired, accrued or incurred
Vested rights/duties continue
3
Penalty, forfeiture or punishment incurred for an offence committed
Old offenders can still be punished
4
Any inquiry, litigation or remedy in respect of such right/privilege/debt/responsibility
Pending proceedings may be initiated, continued or insisted upon
Repeal is prospective in effect on the legal text, but does not undo the past. The new Act takes over from the date of repeal; what happened earlier under the old law remains untouched.
Worked example
### Example 1
Example 1 — Vested Right Survives Repeal
Facts: Mr. A acquired a licence under the (now-repealed) Act X in 2022. In 2024, Act X is repealed and replaced by Act Y, which has stricter eligibility.
Analysis: Under Section 6, A's licence (a right acquired) is not affected by the repeal. He continues to enjoy the licence unless Act Y expressly says otherwise.
### Example 2
Example 2 — Pending Prosecution
Facts: An offence was committed under Section 45 of repealed Act X. Before trial concludes, Act X is repealed.
Analysis: The prosecution may continue. The repeal does not affect any penalty/punishment incurred for an offence committed against the repealed Act.
⚠️ Common exam mistakes
Assuming repeal automatically extinguishes all pending cases — it does not; pending litigation continues unless a contrary intention is shown.
Confusing 'repeal' with 'amendment' — repeal removes the whole Act/provision; amendment modifies it.
Forgetting the 'unless a different intention appears' rider — the new Act can expressly override Section 6.
Treating repeal as retrospective — it is prospective; past acts done remain valid.
Bare-Act text Section 6 · The General Clauses Act, 1897 · click to expand
Section 6 — Where any Central Act or Regulation repeals any enactment hitherto made or hereafter to be made, then, unless a different intention appears, the repeal shall not — (a) revive anything not in force or existing at the time at which the repeal takes effect; or (b) affect the previous operation of any enactment so repealed or anything duly done or suffered thereunder; or (c) affect any right, privilege, obligation or liability acquired, accrued or incurred under any enactment so repealed; or (d) affect any penalty, forfeiture or punishment incurred in respect of any offence committed against any enactment so repealed; or (e) affect any investigation, legal proceeding or remedy in respect of any such right, privilege, obligation, liability, penalty, forfeiture or punishment as aforesaid.