9. Draft Constitution as published in the Gazette of India, dated 26th February 1948 with Dr. Ambedkar’s letter dated 21st February 1948 to Dr. Rajendra Prasad,President of the Constituent Assembly of India - Page 290

THE DRAFT CONSTITUTION 257

THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY, FEB. 26,1948 289

Judges of the 308. (1) The judges of the Federal Court holding

Federal office immediately before the date of commencement

Court to of this Constitution shall, unless they have elected

become otherwise, become on that date the judges of the

judges of the Supreme Court and shall thereupon be entitled to 5

Supreme such salaries and allowances and to such rights in

Court and respect of leave and pensions as are provided for

proceedings under article 104 of this Constitution in respect of

pending in the judges of the Supreme Court.

the Federal

Court or

(2) All suits, appeals and proceedings, civil or 10 before His criminal, pending in the Federal Court at the Majesty in commencement of this Constitution shall stand re- Counoil to be moved to the Supreme Court, and the Supreme transferred Court shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine to the the same and the judgments and orders of the 15 Supreme Federal Court delivered or made before the com- Court. mencement of this Constitution shall have the same

force and effect as if they had been delivered or made

by the Supreme Court.

*(3) On and from the date of commencement of 20

this Constitution the jurisdiction of His Majesty in

Council to entertain and dispose of appeals and

petitions from or in respect of any decree or order

of any court within the territory of India including

the jurisdiction in respect of criminal matters 25

exercisable by His Majesty by virtue of His

Majesty’s prerogative shall cease, and all appeals

and other proceedings pending before His Majesty

in Council on the said date shall be transferred to,

and disposed of, by the Supreme Court. 30

(4) Further provision may be made by Parlia-

ment by law to give effect to the provisions of this

article.

*The Committee thinks that all appeals and other proceedings

pending before His Majesty-in-Council shall be finally disposed of

by the time the Constitution comes into operation. If, however,

some appeals or other proceedings remain pending before His

Majesty-in-Council at the time of the commencement of the Consti-

tution and any difficulty is experienced with regard to their transfer

to, or disposal by, the Supreme Court, the President may pass

necessary orders under the “removal of difficulties” clause

(article 313).