Refuse and Withdraw - Indian Laws - General

Words `refuse and `withdraw As per P. Ramanatha Aiyar s Advanced Law Lexicon (Third Edition 2005), the word `refuse means to decline positively; to express or show a determination not to do something. As per Century Dictionary , the word `refuse means to deny, as a request, demand or invitation; to decline to accept; to reject, as to refuse an offer. As per New Oxford Illustrated Dictionary , Volume II, p.1421, the word `refuse means - say or convey by action that one will not accept, submit to, give, grant, gratify consent. The dictionary meanings of the word `withdraw are as follows: The Law Lexicon (Third Edition, 2005) - to take back or away something that has been given, allowed, possessed, experienced or enjoyed; to draw away. Black s Law Dictionary (Eighth Edition, p.1632) - the act of taking back or away, removal; the act of retreating from a place, position or situation. New Oxford Illustrated Dictionary (Volume II, p.1894) - pull aside or back, take away, remove, retract; retire from presence or place, go aside or apart. The above extracted meanings of two words bring out sharp distinction between them . While the word `refuse denotes a situation before acceptance of an invitation, offer, office, position, privilege and the like, the word `withdraw means to retract, retire or retreat from a place, position or situation after acceptance thereof. S.B.P. AND COMPANY VERSUS PATEL ENGINEERING LTD. AND ANR. - 2009 (10) TMI 971 - SUPREME COURT