What is the purpose of a privative clause in legislation?

A privative clause is a provision included in legislation that aims to limit or restrict the ability of courts to review decisions made by administrative tribunals. The primary function of this clause is to provide a degree of finality to the decisions rendered by tribunals, ensuring that their judgments are not easily challenged in courts. This is particularly important in administrative law contexts, where the legislature intends for specific expertise to be emphasized in decision-making processes.

The use of privative clauses reflects a legislative intent to defer to the specialized knowledge and discretion of tribunals, allowing them to function with heightened authority in specific areas. This can foster efficiency and clarity in regulatory frameworks, as parties involved in administrative proceedings can have greater assurance that the tribunal's decisions will stand unless there are significant grounds for reconsideration that fall outside the scope of the privative clause.

While the other options address facets of the legal framework surrounding tribunals, they do not accurately capture the essence of what a privative clause is designed to do. Enhancing court powers, creating new legal rights, or merely defining tribunal authority does not align with the specific purpose of a privative clause, which centers on curtailing judicial review.