Constitution of the Commonwealth of Dominica 1978, as amended to 2014
Jurisdiction and Access
  • English
    (1) Subject to the provisions of sections 22(5), 38(6), 42(8), 57(7), 115(8), 118(3) and 121(10) of this Constitution, any person who alleges that any provision of this Constitution (other than a provision of Chapter I3 thereof) has been or is being contravened may, if he has a relevant interest, apply to the High Court for a declaration and for relief under this section.
    (2) The High Court shall have jurisdiction on an application made under this section to determine whether any provision of this Constitution (other than a provision of Chapter I thereof) has been or is being contravened and to make a declaration accordingly.
    (3) Where the High Court makes a declaration under this section that a provision of this Constitution has been or is being contravened and the person on whose application the declaration is made has also applied for relief, the High Court may grant to that person such remedy as its considers appropriate, being a remedy available generally under the law of Dominica in proceedings in the High Court.
    (4) The Chief Justice may make rules with respect to the practice and procedure of the High Court in relation to the jurisdiction and powers conferred on the Court by or under this section, including provision with respect to the time within which any application under this section may be made.
    (5) A person shall be regarded as having a relevant interest for the purpose of an application under this section only if the contravention of this Constitution alleged by him is such as to affect his interests.
    (6) The right conferred on a person by this section to apply for a declaration and relief in respect of an alleged contravention of this Constitution shall be in addition to any other action in respect of the same matter that may be available to that person under any other enactment or any rule of law.
    (7) Nothing in this section shall confer jurisdiction on the High Court to hear or determine any such question as is referred to in section 40 of this Constitution. (Sec. 103)
Jurisdiction and Access
  • English
    (1) Where any question as to the interpretation of this Constitution arises in any court of law established for Dominica (other than the Court of Appeal, the High Court or a court- martial) and the court is of opinion that the question involves a substantial question of law, the court shall refer the question to the High Court.
    … (Sec. 104)
Jurisdiction and Access
  • English
    (1) Subject to the provisions of section 40(7) of this Constitution, an appeal shall lie from decisions of the High Court to the Court of Appeal as of right in the following cases:
    (a) final decisions in any civil or criminal proceedings on questions as to the interpretation of this Constitution;
    (b) final decisions given in exercise of the jurisdiction conferred on the High Court by section 16 of this Constitution (which relates to the enforcement of the fundamental rights and freedoms).
    (2) An Appeal shall lie from final decisions of the Public Service Board of Appeal to the Court of Appeal.
    (3) The Chief Justice may make rules with respect to the practice and procedure of the Court of Appeal in relation to appeals from the Public Service Board of Appeal to the Court of Appeal. (Sec. 105)
Jurisdiction and Access
  • English

    1. An appeal shall lie as of right from decisions of the Court of Appeal to the Caribbean Court of Justice in the following cases

    c. final decisions in any civil or criminal proceedings which involve a question as to the interpretation of this Constitution;
    … (Sec. 106)

Links to all sites last visited 8 February 2024
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Chapter VII on Citizenship.
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Chapter I on Protection of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms.
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Provisions of Chapter I on Protection of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms.

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Chapter I on Protection of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms.
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Provisions of Chapter I on Protection of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms.