Key Concepts & Self-Assessment15 Key Facts
Review key Supreme Court & Indian Judicial System exam facts and rate your mastery to track revision.
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#1
Part V, Chapter IV (Articles 124-147) establishes the Supreme Court of India, currently consisting of 34 judges (1 Chief Justice and 33 puines judges) who serve until the age of 65.
#2
Under Article 131, the Supreme Court has exclusive original jurisdiction in disputes between the Government of India and one or more States, or between two or more States.
#3
Article 32 empowers the Supreme Court to issue writs (Habeas Corpus, Mandamus, Prohibition, Quo-Warranto, Certiorari) for the enforcement of Fundamental Rights, designated by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar as the heart and soul of the Constitution.
#4
Under Article 143, the President of India may seek the advisory opinion of the Supreme Court on questions of law or public importance, though the advice is non-binding.
#5
In Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala (1973), a 13-judge constitutional bench established the Basic Structure doctrine, limiting Parliament's amending power under Article 368.
#6
The Supreme Court was inaugurated on January 28, 1950 in New Delhi, succeeding the Federal Court of India established under the Government of India Act 1935.
#7
Under Article 129, the Supreme Court is a Court of Record possessing the inherent constitutional power to punish for contempt of itself.
#8
Article 136 confers discretionary Special Leave to Appeal upon the Supreme Court against any judgment, decree, or order from any court or tribunal in India.
#9
Article 141 establishes that the law declared by the Supreme Court is binding on all courts within the territory of India.
#10
Article 142 empowers the Supreme Court to pass any decree or make any order necessary for doing complete justice in any cause or matter pending before it.
#11
In the Second Judges Case (1993) and Third Judges Case (1998), the Supreme Court instituted the Collegium System for judicial appointments, comprising the CJI and senior puines judges.
#12
The National Judicial Appointments Commission Act and the 99th Constitutional Amendment Act were declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in October 2015.
#13
H.J. Kania served as the first Chief Justice of India from January 1950 until his death in November 1951.
#14
Justice M. Fathima Beevi became the first female judge appointed to the Supreme Court of India in October 1989.
#15
In Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India (1978), the Supreme Court expanded Article 21, establishing that state procedure depriving personal liberty must be just, fair, and reasonable.
Subject Specialist Commentary
Analytical perspective & practical exam advice from the Master10 academic board
The Supreme Court of India was inaugurated on January 28, 1950 in New Delhi, succeeding the Federal Court under the Government of India Act 1935. As the apex judicial authority, it consists of 34 judges including the Chief Justice of India. Supreme Court judges serve until age 65. The court protects fundamental rights through writs under Article 32, resolves federal disputes under Article 131, and its declared law binds all Indian courts under Article 141.
For competitive exams like UPSC and State PSC, questions test specific jurisdictional articles. Memorize Article 131 for exclusive original jurisdiction, Article 143 for presidential advisory opinions, and Article 136 for Special Leave Petitions. A common statement trap in prelims confuses High Court retirement age (62) with Supreme Court retirement age (65). For revision, remember landmark rulings: Kesavananda Bharati (1973) established the basic structure doctrine, while Maneka Gandhi (1978) expanded personal liberty under Article 21.
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