The Supreme Court of India is the best judicial authority in the country and serves as the final courtof appeal. It is answerable for upholding the constitution of India, decoding legal guidelines, and delivering judgments on an extensive range of matters, which includes constitutional, civil, criminal, and administrative cases.
Key points about Supreme Court of India:
Constitutional basis
The supreme court was established under Article 124 of the constitution of India. It came into existence on January 26, 1950, succeeding the Federal court of India. It has the authority of judicial review which means it may claim laws unconstitutional if they violate the constitution.
Composition
the Supreme Court consists of the Chief Justice of India (CJI) and other judges. the number of judges, along with the CJI, can be decided by the President of India. Presently, the court has a sanctioned strength of 34 judges, along with the CJI, but this range can vary.
Jurisdiction
The court has original, appellate, and advisory jurisdiction:
* Original Jurisdiction: it can hear cases directly, specially related to disputes between states or among a state and the central government.
* Appellate Jurisdiction: It hears appeals towards judgments from lower courts, Primarily High Courts and tribunals. Advisory Jurisdiction: it could provide legal recommendation to the President of India on any constitutional matter.
Procedure
Cases are usually heard via a bench of judges (two or more judges), however extensive cases can be heard with the aid of a larger bench (five or more judges). The Chief Justice of India allocates cases to one-of-a-kind benches.
Judgments are delivered after certain hearings, and the judgments are binding on all courts in India.
Notable Decisions
Over the years, the Supreme Court has delivered several landmark judgments which have formed the country's legal landscape, Such as decisions on fundamental rights, freedom of speech, equality, and secularism.
Functions
*Interpretation of the Constitution: It perform a important role in interpreting the Constitution and ensuring that legal guidelines and actions of the government are consistent with constitutional concepts.
*Protection of Fundamental Rights: The Supreme Court can trouble writs to implement the Fundamental Rights of citizens, which include writs of habeas corpus, mandamus, prohibition, quo warranto, and certiorari.
*Public Interest Litigation (PIL): It allows individuals or organizations to approach the court on matters of public interest, even if they are not directly affected by the issue.