CONFIDENTIAL
C.O. Ref: CSA 333/01
DESPATCH
CIRCULAR 508/55
THE CHURCH HOUSE,
CONFIDENTIAL
GREAT SMITH STREET,
LONDON, S. W. 1.
20th May, 1955.
Sir,
HER MAJESTY'S OVERSEA CIVIL SERVICE
Position of the Judiciary.
In paragraph 10 of Lord Chandos' confidential circular despatch of the 20th July, 1954 reference was made to the posi- tion of members of the Colonial Legal Service on the establish- ment of Her Majesty's Oversea Civil Service. I have given this matter further consideration in the light of representations which have been received from certain judges, the gist of which is that it would be improper, even by implication - which might result from membership of Her Majesty's Oversea Civil Service - to describe a judge as a civil servant.
2. This point is undoubtedly a valid one and in order to meet it, it has been decided, with Her Majesty's approval, that judges and magistrates should not be included in any list of members of Her Majesty's Oversea Civil Service and that if in any connection it is necessary to refer to them collectively they should be des- cribed as Her Majesty's Oversea Judiciary. At the same time it is to be understood that in practice the rights and privileges attached to Her Majesty's Oversea Civil Service will apply to them in exactly the same way as if they were listed as members of that Service.
3. This circular has been addressed to all Colonies (including the Federation of Nigeria and the Regional Governments), Protec- torates, and Regional Organisations. It has been sent to the High Commissioner for the Federation of Malaya under cover of a separate despatch.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most opedient,
humble servant,
Alan Lennise Boyd