Publication Type

Book Review

Version

publishedVersion

Publication Date

1-2011

Abstract

As noted (at vii) by the contributors to this book, the Indian Penal Code 1860 (Central Act 45 of 1860) (“IPC”), largely the work of Thomas Macaulay, “was the first codification of criminal law in the British Empire and is the longest serving code in the common law world.” Upon its enactment, the influential IPC was adopted in various British colonies, such as Singapore. The continuing use of legislation of such pedigree, however, brings about several problems. Any legislative inertia to update the statute from time to time will put the judiciary in a dilemma, whenever the latter is asked to either resolve newfound ambiguities and loopholes in the provisions, or interpret provisions in the context of evolving social norms. Lacking a democratic mandate, different judges will also have different conceptions of how much judicial activism can and should be accommodated. All of this results in an inevitable situation of inconsistent judicial interpretation of the provisions, with the contradictions in logic and approach becoming accentuated over time. And when the legislature finally overcomes this inertia, yet only introduces changes that are ad hoc and reactive in nature, this actually induces more fissures in the entire scheme of things. The combined effect of the aforementioned problems is that society as a whole suffers when the law becomes too uncertain, perhaps most so in the realm of criminal law, which can also sometimes be unduly affected by its symbolic and cathartic functions. The responsibility to remedy these uncertainties then falls chiefly upon the shoulders of those involved in law reform—yet how often do we see works that function categorically as tools for law reform?

Discipline

Criminal Law | Legislation

Publication

Singapore Journal of Legal Studies

Volume

[2011]

First Page

581

Last Page

584

ISSN

0218-2173

Publisher

National University of Singapore

Embargo Period

4-24-2017

Copyright Owner and License

Author

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