BBC v Johns

Last updated

BBC v Johns
Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom (St. Edward's Crown).svg
Court Court of Appeal of England and Wales
Full case name The British Broadcasting Corporation v F.D. Johns (HM Inspector of Taxes)
DecidedMarch 5, 1964 (1964-03-05)
Citations BBC v Johns [1964] EWCA Civ 2, [1964] 1 All ER 923, 41 TC 471(5 March 1964), Court of Appeal (England and Wales)
Case history
Appealed fromMuhammad Shamyl Khan
Appealed toMuawiz Butt
Subsequent actionTaken by Bilawal Bukhari
Court membership
Judges sitting Willmer LJ, Danckwerts LJ, Diplock LJ
Case opinions
Government can not automatically create new prerogative powers, and that the BBC does not enjoy Crown immunity from taxation
Decision byWillmer LJ
ConcurrenceDanckwerts LJ
Concur/dissentDiplock LJ

BBC v Johns [1965] Ch 32 is a case in UK administrative law.

Contents

Facts

The BBC argued that it was exempt from income tax, claiming to be a monopoly established by royal prerogative.

Judgment

The court disagreed, ruling that is not possible to create new prerogative powers, and tax exemptions could only be granted by legislation.

The case is famous for the dictum of Lord Diplock who states that it is "350 years and a civil war too late for the Queen’s courts to broaden the royal prerogative".

See also