Identity area
Reference code
LK-NA/81
Title
Supreme Court of Ceylon
Date(s)
- 1803-1949 (Creation)
Level of description
Fonds
Extent and medium
Files 1-2576 ,manuscripts, typed and printed
Context area
Name of creator
Supreme Court of Ceylon
(1803-1949)
Administrative history
The Supreme Court of Judicature in Ceylon was originally constituted by the Charter of April 18, 1801. It consisted of a Chief Justice and one Puisne Justice. The Supreme Court was vested, with criminal jurisdiction throughout the Maritime Provinces. It was also given Civil jurisdiction over all persons within the Town and Fort of Colombo and over all Europeans in Ceylon.
The Charter of August 9, 1810 extended the Civil and Criminal Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court over the entire Island covering all inhabitants namely Europeans and Ceylonese.
The Administration of Justice Law No.44 of 1973, empowered the Supreme Court to exercise its jurisdiction the law, affirm, reverse or vary any judgment or order, or give directions to any subordinate court, or order a re.trial or a further hearing. It may, if necessary receive and admit new evidence additional to, or supplementary of, the evidence already taken in any subordinate Court. It could also issue mandates in the nature of Writs.
The Supreme Court, on applications made, could inspect and examine the records of any subordinate court and in the exercise of its revisionary powers, make any order that the interests of justice may require.
The Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court can be exercised in different matters at the same time by several judges of the Court sitting separately.
The Charter of August 9, 1810 extended the Civil and Criminal Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court over the entire Island covering all inhabitants namely Europeans and Ceylonese.
The Administration of Justice Law No.44 of 1973, empowered the Supreme Court to exercise its jurisdiction the law, affirm, reverse or vary any judgment or order, or give directions to any subordinate court, or order a re.trial or a further hearing. It may, if necessary receive and admit new evidence additional to, or supplementary of, the evidence already taken in any subordinate Court. It could also issue mandates in the nature of Writs.
The Supreme Court, on applications made, could inspect and examine the records of any subordinate court and in the exercise of its revisionary powers, make any order that the interests of justice may require.
The Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court can be exercised in different matters at the same time by several judges of the Court sitting separately.
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Circulars: Colonial Secretary's Circulars regarding Public Services, Criminal Minutes: Colombo, Midland Circuit, Northern Circuit, Southern Circuit, Western Circuit, Supreme Court, Supreme Court Minutes: (1808-1926), Supreme Court Collective Minutes:, Civil Minutes, Supplement Country, Midland and Northern Circuit, Draft Minutes, Supplement Court, Letters, Colonial Secretary to Supreme Court, Fiscal to Registrar, Supreme Court, District Judges to Registrar Supreme Court, Police Magistrate and Commissioner of Requests to Registrar, Supreme Court regarding Court Cases, Commissioner of Loan Board to Registrar, Supreme Court, Proctors to Registrar Supreme Court, Miscellaneous Letters from Judges tot he Governor and others, Judgment Book, High Court of Appeal and Supreme Court, Fixed Rates of Monthly pay and extahblishement of the Supreme Court, Justice Notes of Evidence, Justice Wendt's notes of Evidence, Supreme Court, Judges Notes of Evidence, Justice Borowncs Notes of Evidence, Kurunegala Criminal Session, Midland, Norther, Southern and Westerm Circuit, Supreme Court, Original Judgements, Supreme Court, Rules under International Law-Supreme Court, Case List, Total of Minor and Major Appeals, Appeal List, Daily Appeal List, Supreme Court, Weekly Appeal List, Revisions of Judgements, Supreme Court (Criminal), Bracegirdle Case, Criminal Cases Record Supreme Court, Anuradhapura Bo.Tree Case, Damage to Bo-tree at Anuradhapura by Damunu Arachchige Don Hendrickappu, Special Tribunal, Case No.4 - Supplement Court, Testamentary Cases, Supreme Court, Colombo, Criminal Sessions, Kandy and Trincomalle-Supreme Court, Criminal Information, Colombo, Western, Midland, Northern and Southern Circuit, Supreme Court (1860-1924), Indictments, Indictment of the 1st and part of the Second Colombo Session, Criminal Libels, Eastern, Northern Midland and Southern Circuit, Trial Case connected papers, "Trine" and Defamation, Judges Notes, Midland, 1st and 2nd Northern and 1st, 2nd, 3rd’
and 4th Western Circuit, Sole Testamentary Jurisdiction, Supreme Court, Copies of Testamentary Jurisdiction, Intestate Estates, Observations of Draft Regulations, Special Pearl Finishing Regulations, Land Petitions, petitions to the Chief Justice, Cash Book Ledgers, Supreme Court, Money Deposited Registers, Register of Money deposited in the Kachcheri, Interlocutory Appeal Register, Holiday Warrants, Register of Holiday Warrants - Supreme Court
and 4th Western Circuit, Sole Testamentary Jurisdiction, Supreme Court, Copies of Testamentary Jurisdiction, Intestate Estates, Observations of Draft Regulations, Special Pearl Finishing Regulations, Land Petitions, petitions to the Chief Justice, Cash Book Ledgers, Supreme Court, Money Deposited Registers, Register of Money deposited in the Kachcheri, Interlocutory Appeal Register, Holiday Warrants, Register of Holiday Warrants - Supreme Court
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Open
Conditions governing reproduction
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Supreme Court of Ceylon (Creator)
Description control area
Description identifier
LK-NA/SCC
Institution identifier
LK-NA
Rules and/or conventions used
ISAD(G)
Status
Final
Level of detail
Minimal
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English
Script(s)
- Latin
Sources
International Council on Archives Guide to the Sources of Asian History Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka II (Vol 1), National Archives of Sri Lanka, 1996.