Constitution of Bharat: Article 23: Part 8

Here are some landmark judgments on slavery decided by the Privy Council and Indian judiciary before 1947:

Privy Council

R v. Hodge (1838): This case involved the legality of slavery in the British colonies. The Privy Council ruled that slavery was illegal in the British Empire, reinforcing the abolitionist stance.

The Slave Grace (1827): The Privy Council ruled that a slave who had been taken to England and then returned to a colony could not be re-enslaved, as slavery was illegal in England.

The Slave, Somersett v. Stewart (1772): Although not directly related to India, this landmark case by the Privy Council declared that slavery was unsupported by the common law in England, influencing subsequent rulings in British colonies.

Indian Judiciary

Queen Empress v. Ram Saran (1884): The Allahabad High Court ruled that the practice of slavery was illegal under Indian law, reinforcing the abolitionist stance.

These cases reflect the judiciary's efforts to uphold the fundamental rights and adapt to the changing needs of society.