Privy Council of Vishwamitra

His Illustrious and Royal Majesty's The Most Honourable Privy Council
राज परिषद
	Royal Arms of the Privy Council
Abbreviation	Privy Council, PC
Formation	1 July 2020
Legal status	Non-executive advisory body
Membership (2024)	32
Official language	English; Hindi
Sovereign	Varuna Sriraya
President of the Privy Council	John Caravaggio III

His Illustrious and Royal Majesty's The Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council of Vishwamitra or just the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Rashtradhyaksh of Vishwamitra. The council, as the Vishwamitran Constitution stipulates must not be composed of more than eighteen members. The council is led by the President of the Privy Council, currently held by John Caravaggio III since 1 July 2024. The Rashtradhyaksh alone appoints all members of the council in consultation with the president.

The Privy Council was formed on 1 July 2020 by then Rashtradhyaksh Tanishkaa Patranabish issuing a royal decree. It "has the function of providing non-binding advice to the Monarch on the exercise of the powers and duties of the Throne and on any matter which may be brought by the Monarch to its attention", and "is comprised of Privy Councillors appointed to it by the Monarch."

Privy Councillors have the right of unhindered access to the ear of the Monarch, to impart advice and concerns. They are entitled to the use of the style of "The Honourable" while in office, in exception to the President who is entitled to use "Excellency" while in office.

History

The first privy council in Vishwamitra was established by a royal decree on 1 July 2020, by Rashtradhyaksh Tanishkaa Patranabish based on the institutions of Thailand and the United Kingdom. At time of the establishment of the office, the Rashtradhyaksh nominated a council of sixteen members and three honorary members. Following her abdication on 29 July 2020, her privy council ceased to exist.

The second privy council was formed by Rashtradhyaksh Varuna Sriraya on 14 August 2020 which underwent several changes throughout its existence. The council comprised of the rulers of the states, the Prime Minister, members of the council of ministers, senior royals and other state officials who served in the council from time to time. The position of the President of the council was created on 25 May 2021 with Chris Ramsay becoming the first to occupy said office.

However, the privy council was abolished at midnight of 31 December 2021 through a parliamentary ordinance. The house of councillors was established as the upper house of the parliament thereupon on 1 January 2022 and most of the sitting privy councilors were elected as members of the newly-created house. The Rashtradhyaksh created the Council of State on 29 January 2022 to render several functions usually reserved for the Privy Council.

By late April 2022, there were indications for the parliament to return to unicameralism with the upper house being abolished. Finally on 19 April 2022, a bill to repeal the Bicameral Legislature Act of 2021 was introduced in the House of the People by Minister Matthew Tonna which was subsequently passed by both houses and received the assent of the Rashtradhyaksh on 27 April 2022. The council of state was also abolished on the same day.

On 28 April 2022, the Privy Council was established for the second time by Rashtradhyaksh Varuna Sriraya through royal decree - 237/2022 as a body of advisers to perform duties and submit advice on various matters from time to time as sought by the Rashtradhyaksh or as directed by the Constitution or other legislations. The composition of the privy council was further amended in 2024 by an act of parliament to allow members of the government, armed forces, judiciary and representatives of the states to also serve on the council.

Functions

The functions of the privy council are described in Article 27 of the Constitution of Vishwamitra and through the establishing decree issued by the Rashtradhyaksh. The members of the privy council are to discharge various functions and duties as assigned to them by the Sovereign. The royal decree describes the functions of the privy council as:

Deliberate and submit its views for His Illustrious and Royal Majesty’s consideration on all matters in which the Government requests His Majesty’s Royal signature of sanction. This includes, among other things, draft legislation, constitutional amendments, appointment of senior officials excluding the Prime Minister.
Deliberate and submit its views for His Illustrious and Royal Majesty’s consideration and final decision on petitions and orders for convicted individuals or those declared as personae non grata under Article 7 of the Constitution or the laws of the land.
Upon Royal command, deliberate and submit its views for His Illustrious and Royal Majesty’s consideration and final decision on petitions regarding grievances submitted to His Illustrious and Royal Majesty by private citizens or to uphold human rights in the state.
In general, perform any service or function as His Illustrious and Royal Majesty may from time-to-time command. The scope can be wide-ranging and varied.
Upon Royal Command, represent His Illustrious and Royal Majesty and other royals at official functions and perform their functions.

Composition

Article 12 of the constitution provides for the composition of the Privy Council. The council is headed by the president, who is appointed solely by the Crown from among the members on the basis of experience and diligence. In case of vacancy in the position, the Crown may nominate an acting president from among the members. The Crown, with the advice and consultation of the President of the Privy Council, can remove or expel any member on grounds of violation of law or inactivity in terms of their service as a privy counsellor, or any other grounds as they see fit.

Until the issuance of Crown Ordinance II on 30 September 2024 to modify the membership of the Privy Council in the Constitution, the membership was limited to 15 privy counsellors at a time. However, since the changes, the Crown reserves the right to nominate any citizen irrespective of their background to the council. Upon their appointment to the council, the members are required to take an oath or make an affirmation:

I, XX, having been appointed a Privy Counsellor, do hereby swear in the God (or solemnly affirm) that I will continuously and unfailingly discharge my duties as directed to me by His Illustrious and Royal Majesty and will forever continue to be loyal to him. I will not directly nor indirectly commit any act of disloyalty or offence before His Illustrious and Royal Majesty.

The current members of the Privy Council as of November 2024 are:

Emblem

The emblem of the privy council has a highly symbolic and religious meaning. The main element of the emblem is the three-headed elephant or Airavata, also known as abhra-matanga, the mount of Hindu god Indra, the King of the Devas which is a principal symbol of Hindu cosmography. The elephant stands on a lotus wide-open pedestal, with a well-designed background. The elephant's heads are topped by the Crown of Vishwamitra, a symbol of the monarchy and its role in the privy council.

Notes

Privy Council of Vishwamitra

Contents

History

Functions

Composition

Emblem

Notes

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