Supreme Court
Indian Polity · सर्वोच्च न्यायालय
📋Quick Overview
The Supreme Court of India is the highest court and the guardian of the Constitution, established under Articles 124–147 (Part V, Chapter IV). It started functioning on 28 January 1950 with the first CJI H.J. Kania. Currently, the SC has 34 judges (1 CJI + 33 others). It has Original, Appellate, and Advisory jurisdiction. The Collegium System (not in Constitution) is used for appointing judges. Article 13 provides Judicial Review power, making SC the final interpreter of the Constitution.
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Art 137 = SC can review its own judgments | Art 141 = SC's law is binding on ALL courts in India | Art 143 = Advisory jurisdiction
📖Supreme Court — Key Facts Table
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Articles | 124–147 (Part V, Chapter IV) |
| Established | 28 January 1950 |
| Seat | New Delhi (can sit elsewhere with CJI + President approval) |
| Strength | 34 (1 CJI + 33 judges) |
| Appointment | By President (on recommendation of Collegium — CJI + 4 senior SC judges) |
| Qualifications | Indian citizen, 5 yrs HC judge OR 10 yrs HC advocate OR distinguished jurist (President's opinion) |
| Retirement Age | 65 years |
| Removal | By President on address of Parliament (Special Majority) — proved misbehaviour or incapacity |
| Oath | Administered by President |
| Salary | CJI: Rs 2.80 Lakh/month; Other judges: Rs 2.50 Lakh/month |
| First CJI | H.J. Kania (26 Jan 1950) |
📖3 Types of Jurisdiction
| Jurisdiction | Article | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Original (Art 131) | 131 | Disputes between Centre & States, or between 2+ States — SC is FIRST court |
| Writ (Art 32) | 32 | Enforcement of Fundamental Rights — Right to Constitutional Remedies (DR Ambedkar called it 'Heart and Soul') |
| Appellate | 132-134 | Appeals from High Courts in Civil, Criminal, Constitutional cases |
| Advisory (Art 143) | 143 | President can seek SC's opinion on legal/factual matters (not binding on President) |
| Review (Art 137) | 137 | SC can review its own judgments |
| Special Leave (Art 136) | 136 | SC can grant special leave to appeal against any court/tribunal judgment |
📝Important Concepts
- •Judicial Review (Art 13): SC can declare any law unconstitutional if it violates Fundamental Rights — borrowed from USA
- •PIL (Public Interest Litigation): Any person can file for public interest. Started by Justice P.N. Bhagwati and Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer
- •Collegium System: CJI + 4 senior SC judges recommend appointments. NOT in Constitution — evolved through SC judgments (Three Judges Cases)
- •Art 141: Law declared by SC is binding on ALL courts in India
- •Art 144: All authorities in India must assist SC
- •SC judge cannot practice in any court after retirement
📝"First / Only" — Quick Facts
- •FIRST CJI → H.J. Kania (26 Jan 1950 to 6 Nov 1951)
- •FIRST woman SC judge → Justice Fathima Beevi (1989)
- •Longest-serving CJI → Justice Y.V. Chandrachud (7+ years)
- •SC originally had 8 judges (1 CJI + 7). Increased to 34 by Parliament.
- •ONLY court that can issue writs under Art 32 for Fundamental Rights enforcement