Indian Judiciary & The Supreme Court
India features a unified, integrated judicial hierarchy with the Supreme Court of India at its apex, established under Article 124 in New Delhi. The judiciary operates independently of the executive and legislative branches. The Supreme Court exercises three primary jurisdictions: original jurisdiction over federal disputes (Article 131), appellate jurisdiction over constitutional, civil, and criminal rulings (Articles 132–134), and advisory jurisdiction on presidential reference (Article 143). Through judicial review and Public Interest Litigation (PIL) pioneered by Justices P.N. Bhagwati and V.R. Krishna Iyer, the court functions as the ultimate guardian of the Constitution and fundamental rights, interpreting statutory laws and executive decisions against constitutional parameters.
Key Concepts & Examination Highlights
- The Supreme Court was inaugurated on January 28, 1950, succeeding the Federal Court of India established under the Government of India Act 1935.
- Under Article 143, the President of India may seek the advisory opinion of the Supreme Court on questions of law or public importance.
- High Court judges and Supreme Court judges are appointed by the President through the judicial Collegium system.
- Under Article 226, High Courts possess writ jurisdiction that is wider in scope than Article 32, extending to fundamental and legal rights.