Launch offer — 25% off with code LAUNCH-25 See plans →
Microlesson · 5-min read

Repeal of Act Making Textual Amendment (Section 6A)

# Section 6A — Repeal of Act Making Textual Amendment

## Scenario Setup

Imagine Act A is amended by Act B (which inserts, omits, or substitutes text in Act A). Later, Act B itself is repealed by Act C.

Question: Does the repeal of Act B undo the amendment it made to Act A?

## The Rule

No. Where a Central Act or Regulation repeals any Act by which the text of any other Central Act/Regulation was amended (by express omission, insertion or substitution), the repeal shall not affect the continuance of that amendment if it was in operation at the time of the repeal.

## Visual Flow

```

Act A ──amended by──▶ Act B (textual amendment to Act A)

Act C repeals Act B

Amendment made to Act A SURVIVES ✓

```

## Why This Rule Exists

A textual amendment becomes part and parcel of the original Act. Once merged, the amending Act has done its job — it is a "spent" provision. Repealing the amending Act does not magically restore the pre-amended text of the principal Act.

Worked example

### Example 1

Example — Amendment Survives

Facts: Companies Act, 2013 (Act A) is amended by the Companies (Amendment) Act, 2017 (Act B), which substitutes Section 2(41). In 2025, Parliament repeals Act B by Act C.

Analysis: Section 2(41) of the Companies Act continues to read as it was substituted by the 2017 Amendment. The repeal of the Amendment Act does not revive the pre-2017 wording.

⚠️ Common exam mistakes

  • Believing that repealing an amending Act 'rolls back' the principal Act to its earlier form — Section 6A prevents this.
  • Confusing Section 6A with Section 6 — Section 6 deals with general consequences of repeal; Section 6A specifically deals with repeal of amending statutes.
Bare-Act text Section 6A · The General Clauses Act, 1897 · click to expand
Section 6A — Where any Central Act or Regulation made after the commencement of this Act repeals any enactment by which the text of any Central Act or Regulation was amended by the express omission, insertion or substitution of any matter, then, unless a different intention appears, the repeal shall not affect the continuance of any such amendment made by the enactment so repealed and in operation at the time of such repeal.
Now that you've read this — what's next?
Move from understanding → mastery in 3 clicks. Each option below picks up from this lesson's topic.
Start 15-min diagnostic