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Jurisdiction Rights of citizens, so that no person or authority
The jurisdiction of the Supreme Court can be can erode, abridge or infringe upon them.
divided into two types—original and appellate.
Advisory Functions
Original Jurisdiction The President or any government department can
seek its advice on any constitutional or legal
By original jurisdiction is meant that the Supreme
matter.
Court can entertain new cases, such as the cases
pertaining to the interpretation of the Constitution, Court of Record
disputes between the central and state All decisions of the Supreme Court are recorded
governments, disputes between two or more and published for the use of judges and advocates
states, or cases pertaining to the violation of
for future reference. This record also includes the
Fundamental Rights. important decisions by the High Courts.
Appellate Jurisdiction
Info Bits
By appellate jurisdiction is meant that the Info Bits
Supreme Court can entertain cases in appeal from
the lower courts. This jurisdiction pertains to The Right to Information Act was passed by the
criminal cases, civil cases and constitutional Parliament in 2005 giving citizens of India access
disputes. An appeal in a criminal case can be to central and state governments ’ records and is a
brought to the Supreme Court if a decision of the powerful tool in the hands of common citizens to
subordinate court has been reversed by a High get speedy justice.
Court and the guilty was awarded the capital
punishment or where a High Court has awarded THE STATE JUDICIARY
the capital punishment, or where a High Court According to the Constitution of India, there
certifies that the case is fit for decision by the should be a High Court in all states. However,
Supreme Court as some point of law or there can be a common High Court for two or
interpretation of the Constitution is involved. An more states and union territories. For example, the
appeal in a civil case can be brought to the states of Haryana and Punjab and the union
Supreme Court if a High Court certifies that it territory of Chandigarh have one common High
involves a substantial point of law and Court. Similarly, the states of Assam, Manipur,
interpretation of the Constitution. In addition, any Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tripura, Mizoram and
case where a High Court certifies that it involves a Arunachal Pradesh, all these states have a
point of law and interpretation of the Constitution common High Court in Guwahati.
can be appealed to the highest court in the land.
Composition and Appointment of Judges
Functions of the Supreme Court
A High Court is composed of a Chief Justice and
In addition to the above jurisdiction, the Supreme as many other judges as the Parliament may
Court also performs the following functions : decide from time to time. A judge of the High
Court is appointed
Custodian of the Constitution
by the President of
The Supreme Court upholds the sanctity of the India after
Constitution. It can review any central or state law consultation with the
and can declare it null and void in case it is not in Chief Justice of India,
keeping with the letter and spirit of the the Governor of the
Constitution. concerned state, and
Guardian of Fundamental Rights in case of a judge
other than the Chief
The Supreme Court guards the Fundamental
Allahabad High Court
The Judiciary
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