Greek and Latin - DDT's new feature

By Vijay Kumar

Today’s phrase: desuetude. A learned friend asked me to give pronunciation of the words and phrases covered in this feature – They are to be pronounced in a court – after all. While I am not sure of the pronunciation of many English words, let alone Latin, I will try to give the pronunciation whenever I am reasonably sure. This word is pronounced as ‘des wi tyud’ and it is legal process by which through disobedience and lack of enforcement over a long period of time, a statute may lose its force without express or implied repeal by the Government. In a recent case in the Delhi High Court it was argued that the bar of employing women in places where liquor was consumed was desuetude. It is what happens to un-repealed laws when they become obsolete.

Now have a look at Section 20 of the Factories Act,

SPITTOONS - (1) In every factory there shall be provided a sufficient number of spittoons in convenient places and they shall be maintained in a clean and hygienic condition.

(2) The State Government may make rules prescribing the type and the number of spittoons to be provided and their location in any factory and provide for such further matters relating to their maintenance in a clean and hygienic condition.

(3) No person shall spit within the premises of a factory except in the spittoons provided for the purpose and a notice containing this provision and the penalty for its violation shall be prominently displayed at suitable places in the premises.

(4) Whoever spits in contravention of sub-section (3) shall be punishable with fine not exceeding five rupees.

For the sceptic there remains only one consolation: if there should be such a thing as superhuman law it is administered with subhuman inefficiency.

Eric Ambler