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The Global Gender Equality Constitutional Database is a repository of gender equality related provisions in 194 constitutions from around the world. The Database was updated in partnership with the International Bar Association's Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) and with support from the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) and the Government of Japan. Experience its wealth and depth of information by starting your search now.
Jurisdiction and Access
- English
1. Subject to sections 41(5), 64(5) and 101(1)4, where any person alleges that any provision of this Constitution (other than Chapter II) has been contravened and that his interests are being or are likely to be affected by such contravention, then, without prejudice to any other action with respect to the same matter which is lawfully available, that person may apply to the Supreme Court for a declaration and for relief under this section.
2. The Supreme Court shall have jurisdiction, in any application made by any person in pursuance of subsection (1) or in any other proceedings lawfully brought before the court, to determine whether any provision of this Constitution (other than Chapter II) has been contravened and to make a declaration accordingly:
Provided that the Supreme Court shall, not make a declaration in pursuance of the jurisdiction conferred by this subsection unless it is satisfied that the interests of the person by whom the application under subsection (1) is made or, in the case of other proceedings before the court, a party to these proceedings, are being or are likely to be affected.
3. Where the Supreme Court makes a declaration in pursuance of subsection (2) that any provision of the Constitution has been contravened and the person by whom the application under subsection (1) was made or, in the case of other proceedings before the court, the party in those proceedings in respect of whom declaration is made, seeks relief, the Supreme Court may grant to that person such remedy, being a remedy available against any person in any proceedings in the Supreme Court under any law for the time being in force in Mauritius, as the court considers appropriate.
4. The Chief Justice may make rules with respect to the practice and procedure of the Supreme Court in relation to the jurisdiction and powers conferred on it by this section (including rules with respect to the time within which applications shall be made under subsection (1)).
5. Nothing in this section shall confer jurisdiction on the Supreme Court to hear or determine any such question as is referred to in section 375 or paragraph 2(5), 3(2) or 4(4) of the First Schedule otherwise than upon an application made in accordance with that section or that paragraph, as the case may be. (Sec. 83)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishAn appeal shall lie as of right to the Court of Appeal from any decision of the High Court which involves the interpretation of this Constitution, other than a decision of the High Court under section 69(1) of this Constitution:
Provided that no appeal shall lie from a determination of the High Court under this section dismissing an application on the ground that it is frivolous or vexatious. (Sec. 106)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English[The following] are duties and attributions of the Supreme Court of Justice:
…
5. to take cognizance [conocer] and to decide [resolver] on unconstitutionality;
… (Art. 259) - SpanishSon deberes y atribuciones de la Corte Suprema de Justicia:
…
5. conocer y resolver sobre inconstitucionalidad;
… (Art. 259)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishInstitutional Acts, before their promulgation, Private Members’ Bills mentioned in article 11 before they are submitted to referendum, and the rules of procedure of the Houses of Parliament shall, before coming into force, be referred to the Constitutional Council, which shall rule on their conformity with the Constitution.
To the same end, Acts of Parliament may be referred to the Constitutional Council, before their promulgation, by the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister, the President of the National Assembly, the President of the Senate, sixty Members of the National Assembly or sixty Senators.
… (1958 Constitution, Art. 61) - FrenchLes lois organiques, avant leur promulgation, les propositions de loi mentionnées à l'article 11 avant qu'elles ne soient soumises au référendum, et les règlements des assemblées parlementaires, avant leur mise en application, doivent être soumis au Conseil constitutionnel qui se prononce sur leur conformité à la Constitution.
Aux mêmes fins, les lois peuvent être déférées au Conseil constitutionnel, avant leur promulgation, par le Président de la République, le Premier ministre, le président de l'Assemblée nationale, le président du Sénat ou soixante députés ou soixante sénateurs.
… (Constitution 1958, Art. 61)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishThe organic laws, before their promulgation, and the Internal Regulations of the National Assembly, before their application as well as their modifications, must be submitted to the Constitutional Court which decides on their conformity with the Constitution.
To the same end, before their promulgation, the laws may be referred [déférées] to the Constitutional Court by the President of the Republic, by the Prime Minister, by the president of the National Assembly or by one-tenth (1/10) of the Deputies.
… (Art. 131) - FrenchLes lois organiques, avant leur promulgation, et le Règlement intérieur de l'Assemblée nationale, avant sa mise en application ainsi que leurs modifications, doivent être soumis à la Cour constitutionnelle qui se prononce sur leur conformité à la Constitution.
Aux mêmes fins, avant leur promulgation, les lois peuvent être déférées à la Cour constitutionnelle par le Président de la République, le Premier ministre, le président de l'Assemblée nationale ou un dixième (1/10) des députés.
... (Art. 131)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English1. Court decisions shall be subject to appeal to the Constitutional Court whenever:
a) The courts refuse, on the grounds of unconstitutionality, to apply any rule or resolution of a content that is material and normative or specific and concrete;
b) They apply rules or resolutions of a content that is material and normative or specific and concrete, whose unconstitutionality has been challenged in the proceedings;
c) They apply rules or resolutions of a content that is material and normative or specific and concrete, which have previously been considered unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court itself.
2. Decisions shall also be subject to appeal to the Constitutional Court whenever:
a) They apply resolutions of a content that is material and normative or specific and concrete, which have previously been considered illegal by the Constitutional Court or whose illegality has been challenged in the proceedings.
b) They refuse to apply, on the grounds of illegality, the resolutions referred to in the preceding subparagraph. (Art. 281) - Portuguese1. Cabe recurso para o Tribunal Constitucional, das decisões dos Tribunais que:
a) Recusem, com fundamento em inconstitucionalidade, a aplicação de qualquer norma ou resolução de conteúdo material normativo ou individual e concreto;
b) Apliquem normas ou resoluções de conteúdo material normativo ou individual e concreto cuja inconstitucionalidade haja sido suscitada no processo;
c) Apliquem normas ou resoluções de conteúdo material normativo ou individual e concreto que tenham sido anteriormente julgadas inconstitucionais pelo próprio Tribunal Constitucional.
2. Cabe, ainda, recurso para o Tribunal Constitucional das decisões que:
a) Apliquem resoluções de conteúdo material normativo ou individual e concreto que tenham sido julgadas anteriormente ilegais pelo próprio Tribunal Constitucional ou cuja ilegalidade haja sido suscitada no processo;
b) Recusem aplicar, com fundamento em ilegalidade, as resoluções referidas na alínea anterior. (Art. 281)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishSubject to the provisions of section 36 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 decision 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); and
c. such other cases as may be prescribed by Parliament. (Sec. 98)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English
(1) The Constitutional Court decides, by means of [an] order [arret], on the conformity of laws with the Constitution.
(2) The Constitutional Court may be referred to [a matter], under title of preliminary opinion [titre prejudiciel], following the modalities to be determined by the law, by any jurisdiction to decide on the conformity of the laws, with the exception of the laws concerning approval of treaties, with the Constitution.
(3) The Constitutional Court will regulate the disputes of attribution according to the mode determined by the law.
(4) The attributions of the Constitutional Court may be extended by a law voted by a qualified majority gathering at least two-thirds of the votes of the members of the chamber of deputies, the vote by proxy not being admitted.
... (Art. 112)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English1. As long as the Constitutional Court is not legally established, the administration of justice on matters of a legal and constitutional nature shall be carried out by the Supreme Court of Justice, which shall be responsible for:
a) Assessing the unconstitutionality and illegality, pursuant to Articles 144 to 150;
b) Exercising the powers pursuant to Article 133.
… (Art. 156) - Portuguese1. Enquanto o Tribunal Constitucional não for legalmente instalado, a administração da justiça em matéria de natureza jurídico-constitucional passa a ser feita pelo Supremo Tribunal de Justiça, ao qual compete:
a) Apreciar a inconstitucionalidade e a ilegalidade, nos termos dos Artigos 144.º a 150.º;
b) Exercer as competências previstas no Artigo 133.º.
… (Art. 156)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishAny person [particulier] can, either directly, or by the procedure of the plea [exception] of unconstitutionality invoked before a jurisdiction in a matter that concerns him, refer the Constitutional Court to [a matter] concerning the constitutionality of the laws and of the treaties.
In the case of [a] plea of unconstitutionality, the referred jurisdiction postpones [its] decision and grants [impartit] the petitioner a time period of one (1) month from the notification of the decision to refer [the matter] to the Constitutional Court. (Art. 180) - FrenchTout particulier peut, soit directement, soit par la procédure de l’exception d’inconstitutionnalité invoquée devant une juridiction dans une affaire qui le concerne, saisir la Cour constitutionnelle sur la constitutionnalité des lois et des traités.
En cas d’exception d’inconstitutionnalité, la juridiction saisie surseoit à statuer et impartit au requérant un délai d’un (1) mois à partir de la signification de sa décision pour saisir la Cour constitutionnelle. (Art. 180)