The 'Mischief Rule' or rule in Heydon's case asks the court to consider:
AThe literal grammatical meaning
BWhat was the common law before the Act; the mischief the Act sought to remedy; the remedy enacted
CWhether the section is unconstitutional
DWhether the section is fair
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: B. What was the common law before the Act; the mischief the Act sought to remedy; the remedy enacted
1. Heydon's case (1584) — four points: (1) law before the Act, (2) mischief, (3) remedy, (4) reason of remedy.
2. It is an external/internal aid to purposive construction.
3. Hence (B).
_Source: ICAI BoS CA Inter Paper 2 — Interpretation of Statutes_