Document file · Judgment extracts

Ramdass v Minister of Finance: extracts from the Privy Council judgment

Judicial Committee of the Privy Council

Extracts from the Privy Council's judgment in the Auditor General's challenge to the Minister of Finance's investigation, The Board decided only whether the challenge could proceed; it made no finding that public money was lost.

Document of record · Privy Council case page

Judgment given 28 January 2025 · [2025] UKPC 4 · Heard 7 November 2024

Key extracts & findings

Para. 1

What the case was about

“The proceedings that have given rise to this appeal concern an application for judicial review by the Auditor General… against the Minister of Finance… challenging the Minister’s recommendation (accepted by the Cabinet) to appoint an investigation team whose members and terms of reference were determined by him.”

Para. 2

A limited challenge

“There is no dispute that the magnitude of the understatement of revenue by the MoF and the circumstances that led to it raise serious matters of public concern warranting a full investigation. However, the respondent’s challenge is limited… she seeks to quash as unlawful only those parts of the appellants’ decisions that are concerned with the design and implementation of an investigation into her role and conduct as Auditor General.”

Para. 6

Leave upheld

“The Board is not satisfied that the Court of Appeal was plainly wrong to grant leave or that there is any knockout blow justifying the refusal of leave on either ground.”

Para. 105

The Minister’s watch

“The investigation concerns alleged errors and maladministration that occurred under and during [the Minister’s] watch.”

Extracts are summarised from the document of record, which is linked above. Where a passage is disputed, this newsroom will publish the correction alongside the extract.