Original Jurisdiction of Supreme Court of India

Introduction

The Supreme Court of India is India’s highest judicial forum and final court of appeal. It was established on January 28, 1950, under the Constitution of India and has its seat in New Delhi. The Supreme Court is entrusted with the task of protecting the Fundamental Rights of citizens and plays a crucial role in maintaining the Rule of Law and upholding the Constitution of India.

The Supreme Court is headed by the Chief Justice of India and consists of a maximum of 34 judges, including the Chief Justice. The judges are appointed by the President of India on the recommendation of the collegium, which comprises the Chief Justice and four senior-most judges of the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court has original, appellate, and advisory jurisdiction. It hears appeals from various High Courts and can also take up cases directly from lower courts in certain circumstances. In addition, Article 32 of the Constitution of India provides for the Supreme Court’s power to issue writs, including those of habeas corpus, mandamus, prohibition, quo warranto, and certiorari, to enforce fundamental rights and ensure that government officials act within their lawful authority.

One of the key powers conferred upon the Supreme Court by the Constitution is its original jurisdiction. The Supreme Court’s original jurisdiction refers to the Court’s authority to hear and decide cases brought directly to it, without the need for the case to first be heard by a lower court. The Supreme Court of India is considered as the Court of First Instance in such cases. This article will provide an in-depth analysis of the original jurisdiction of Supreme Court of India, including its scope, limitations, and significance.

What is Jurisdiction?

Jurisdiction is the authority granted to a court or judicial body to hear and determine legal cases. In other words, it refers to the power of a court to hear, try, and decide a case. The Indian legal system has various types of jurisdiction:

  1. Territorial Jurisdiction: This refers to the geographical area over which a court has the authority to hear and decide cases. Each court has a defined territorial jurisdiction based on the area in which it is located. For example, a District Court has jurisdiction over a specific district.
  2. Pecuniary Jurisdiction: This refers to the monetary value of the case over which a court has jurisdiction. The pecuniary jurisdiction of a court is determined by the monetary limit prescribed by the law. For instance, a Small Claims Court has jurisdiction over cases involving a certain maximum amount of money.
  3. Original Jurisdiction: This refers to the authority of a court to hear a case for the first time. The Supreme Court and High Courts have original jurisdiction in certain types of cases, such as cases involving disputes between states or between the central and state governments.
  4. Appellate Jurisdiction: This refers to the authority of a court to hear appeals against the judgments of lower courts. The Supreme Court and High Courts have appellate jurisdiction over judgments passed by lower courts.
  5. Subject Matter Jurisdiction: This refers to the authority of a court to hear cases of a specific type or subject matter. For instance, a family court has subject matter jurisdiction over cases relating to family disputes such as divorce, child custody, and maintenance.

Scope of Original Jurisdiction

Article 131 of the Constitution of India outlines the scope of the Supreme Court’s original jurisdiction. It provides that the Court has original jurisdiction in disputes between:

  1. The Government of India and one or more States.
  2. The Government of India and any State or States on one side and one or more other States on the other.
  3. Two or more States.

The disputes that fall under the original jurisdiction of Supreme Court are typically those that involve issues of a constitutional nature, such as disputes over the distribution of legislative or executive powers between the central and state governments, or disputes over the interpretation of the Constitution.

The scope of the Supreme Court’s original jurisdiction is further clarified by a series of landmark judgments that have interpreted the provisions of Article 131. For example, in the case of the State of Karnataka v. The State of Andhra Pradesh, the Supreme Court held that the dispute between two or more states must be justiciable and not a political one. Similarly, in the case of The State of Rajasthan v. Union of India, the Court clarified that a dispute between the central government and a state government must arise out of a legal right or obligation and not merely a political or administrative disagreement.

Limitations of Original Jurisdiction

While the original jurisdiction of Supreme Court is extensive, it is not without its limitations. One of the key limitations is that the Court can only exercise its original jurisdiction in cases that fall within the scope of Article 131. This means that the Court cannot hear disputes that do not fall within this scope, even if they involve constitutional issues.

Another limitation of the Court’s original jurisdiction is that it can only hear cases that are brought directly to it. This means that the Court cannot hear cases that have already been decided by a lower court, even if they involve constitutional issues. In such cases, the only way to bring the case before the Supreme Court is to file a petition for special leave to appeal under Article 136 of the Constitution. Such petitions are referred to as Special Leave Petitions.

Finally, the Supreme Court’s original jurisdiction is limited by the principle of judicial restraint. This means that the Court will not intervene in disputes that are purely political or administrative in nature, or that do not involve issues of constitutional significance.

Procedure for Initiating a Case

The procedure for initiating a case under the Supreme Court’s original jurisdiction is outlined in the Supreme Court Rules, 2013. Rule 1 of Order XL states that a party initiating a case under the Supreme Court’s original jurisdiction must file a petition in the form prescribed by the Rules, along with supporting documents and evidence. The petition must set out the nature of the dispute, the relief sought, and the legal provisions relied upon.

Once the petition is filed, the Supreme Court will examine it to determine whether it falls within the scope of its original jurisdiction. If the Court is satisfied that the case falls within its jurisdiction, it will issue notice to the other party (known as the “respondent”), allowing them to file a response to the petition.

If the respondent files a response, the Court may hold oral arguments or ask for additional evidence before deciding the case. The Court may also appoint an arbitrator to assist with the resolution of the dispute. The arbitrator will be chosen by the Chief Justice of India or by a judge nominated by him, and their decision will be binding on all parties involved in the dispute.

If the Supreme Court is not satisfied with the response filed by the respondent, or if the respondent fails to file a response within the prescribed time limit, the Court may proceed to hear and decide the case based on the evidence and arguments presented by the petitioner.

Significance of Original Jurisdiction

The original jurisdiction of Supreme Court of India is significant for several reasons. First, it allows the Court to act as a mediator in disputes between the central and state governments, or between different states. This helps to maintain the balance of power between the central and state governments and ensures that disputes are resolved fairly and impartially.

Second, the original jurisdiction of Supreme Court helps to ensure that constitutional issues are resolved in a timely and efficient manner. Since cases brought under the original jurisdiction of Supreme Court are heard and decided directly by the Court, there is no need for them to go through the lengthy and time-consuming process of being heard by lower courts first.

Finally, the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court is significant because it helps to ensure that the Constitution of India is upheld. The Court’s authority to issue orders and directions that are binding on all parties involved in the dispute, and to appoint arbitrators to assist with the resolution of the dispute, ensures that the Constitution is not violated and that the rule of law is upheld.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of India is a crucial aspect of the Indian legal system. It empowers the Court to hear and decide disputes of a constitutional nature between the central and state governments, or between different states, without the need for the case to first be heard by a lower court. The Supreme Court’s authority to issue orders and directions that are binding on all parties involved in the dispute, and to appoint arbitrators to assist with the resolution of the dispute, makes its original jurisdiction a crucial mechanism for the resolution of constitutional disputes in India. The Constitution of India provides the scope and parameters of the Supreme Court’s original jurisdiction, and the Supreme Court Rules, 2013 outline the procedure for initiating and responding to cases under this jurisdiction. Overall, the original jurisdiction of Supreme Court of India plays a significant role in maintaining the balance of power between the central and state governments, and in upholding the Constitution of India.

Ananya Konur