Original Jurisdiction of

Supreme Court under

Article 131
Subject: Constitutional Law
Student Name: Viren Dipakbhai Sarvaiya
Roll No. and Division: 51-A (FYLLB – Sem II)
Faculty Name: Prof. Sneha Nair
Introduction

 Supreme Court is India’s highest judicial forum and final court of appeal
 Has original, appellate and advisory jurisdiction
 Original jurisdiction refers to the Court’s authority to hear and decide cases
brought directly to it

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Scope of Original Jurisdiction

 Article 131 entails with Original Jurisdiction of Supreme Court

 Supreme Court has original Jurisdiction in disputes between
- Government of India and one or more states
- Government of India and any State or States on one side and one or more States
on other side
- Two or more States
 Such disputes typically involves issues of constitutional nature
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Limitations of Original Jurisdiction

 Can only hear cases which are directly brought to the Supreme Court, where
lower court has already decided the matter Supreme Court can not hear such
cases under Article 131 even if it involves constitutional issues
 Court will not intervene in disputes that are purely political or administrative
in nature or that do not involve issues of constitutional significance

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Procedure for initiating a Case

 File a petition with Supreme Court along with supporting documents and
evidence
 Supreme Court examines and if found suitable under Article 131, it issues
notice to respondent to file response
 On filing of the responses, the Court may hold oral arguments and ask for
additional evidence before deciding the case
 If Court is not satisfied with the responses filed it may proceed to hear and
ask for the additional evidence before deciding the case
Significance of Original Jurisdiction

 Act as mediator between Central Government and States or between 2 states

which helps to maintain balance of power
 Ensures constitutional issues are resolved in timely and efficient manner
 Ensures Constitution is not violated and the rule of Law is upheld
THANK YOU