Federal Court of India

History glossary

Also called: Federal Court · Topic: Framing the Indian Constitution · NCERT: Class 12, Ch 4 "Framing the Constitution"

Meaning

The Federal Court of India was set up in 1937 under the Government of India Act of 1935. It heard disputes between the Centre and the provinces, and some appeals from the High Courts. It was not India's final court, because appeals could still go to the Privy Council in London. Maurice Gwyer was its first Chief Justice. On 26 January 1950, when the Constitution came into force, the Supreme Court of India replaced it.

Example

While the Constitution was being framed, the Assembly's Supreme Court Committee was headed by S. Varadachariar. It planned the new Supreme Court that would take over from the Federal Court in 1950 as India's highest court.

Don't confuse with

  • Supreme Court of India: created by the Constitution in 1950 as the final court of appeal. The Federal Court was a colonial court whose rulings could still be appealed in London.
  • Privy Council: the British body in London that was the final court of appeal for India until 1949.

Related concepts

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