# General Construction Provisions [Sections 9 to 13]
## Commencement and Termination of Time [Section 9]
| Word | Rule |
|---|---|
| "from" | Excludes the first day in a series of days |
| "to" | Includes the last day in a series of days |
## Computation of Time [Section 10]
If an act/proceeding must be done in a court/office on a certain day (or within a prescribed period), and the court/office is closed on that day (or the last day):
→ The act is considered done in time if done on the next day the court/office reopens.
## Measurement of Distance [Section 11]
Distance is measured in a straight line on a horizontal plane (aerial distance), NOT by road.
## Gender and Number [Section 13]
### Rules
- Words denoting the masculine gender include females
- Words in the singular include the plural, and vice versa
### Cautions
(i) Apply carefully in succession laws. Example: "Male descendant" in Chota Nagpur Tenancy Act, 1908 cannot include female descendants.
(ii) If a common gender word exists but the statute uses a specific gender word, the inclusion rule does NOT apply. Example: "Bullock" cannot include "cow" since a common gender word (cattle) exists.
## Duty Pro Rata
- 'Pro rata' = proportionate allocation (Latin)
- If duty is leviable on a given quantity (weight/measure/value), a like duty is leviable at the same rate on any greater or lesser quantity.