Privy Council

 

⚖️ Privy Council

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🏛️ What is the Privy Council?

• The Privy Council (formally: Privy Council of the United Kingdom) is a historic body of advisors to the British monarch.

• It played a key judicial role as the highest court of appeal for many British colonies, dominions, and certain Commonwealth countries.

• The judicial function was exercised by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (JCPC).

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🕰️ Historical Significance

• Before the establishment of independent Supreme Courts in various countries, the JCPC served as the final court of appeal for many British territories, including India before 1947.

• The JCPC heard appeals from colonial courts, including the Indian High Courts and later the Supreme Court of India until India abolished appeals to the Privy Council in 1950.

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🏛️ Current Role

• Today, the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council mainly hears appeals from a few independent Commonwealth countries, British Overseas Territories, and Crown dependencies.

• Examples of jurisdictions still under its appellate jurisdiction include:

  • Certain Caribbean countries (e.g., Jamaica, Bahamas)

  • Some Pacific island nations

  • British Overseas Territories (e.g., Gibraltar, Bermuda)

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⚖️ Composition

• The Judicial Committee comprises senior judges, including Justices of the UK Supreme Court, Lords of Appeal in Ordinary, and other senior legal figures.

• It functions as a supreme appellate court for the jurisdictions it covers.

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🛑 End of Privy Council Appeals in India

• After India’s independence in 1947, appeals to the Privy Council were gradually abolished.

• The Constitution of India (Article 134A) and related amendments ended the jurisdiction of the Privy Council over Indian cases by 1950.

• Since then, the Supreme Court of India is the final court of appeal.

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Summary Table

Aspect	Details
Established	Early 18th century
Function (historical)	Highest appellate court for British colonies
Current Function	Final appellate body for select Commonwealth countries and territories
Role in India	Final appellate court till 1950
Composition	Senior UK judges including Supreme Court justices