"Mandatory and Directory Or Permissive Words"

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.... terms of command, and there is no indication from the nature or wording of the act or the surrounding circumstances that it is to receive a permissive interpretation, it will be construed as pre-emptory." In his discussion on the subject, "Mandatory and Directory or Permissive Words" Crawford in the afore-noticed treatise says: "Ordinarily the words "shall" and "must" are mandatory, and the wo....

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.... legislature intended the words "shall" and "must" to be directory, they should be given that meaning. Similarly, under the same circumstances, the word "may" should be given a mandatory meaning, and especially where the statute concerns the rights and interests of the public, or where third persons have a claim de jure that a power shall be exercised, or whenever something is directed to be done ....