Original Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court
Original jurisdiction refers to the power of the Supreme Court to hear and decide certain types of cases directly, without any intermediate court involvement. According to Article 131 of the Indian Constitution, the Supreme Court has original jurisdiction over the following kinds of disputes:
- Disputes between the Government of India and one or more states: This includes cases where the Centre and state governments have conflicts over the Constitution, laws, or governance.
- Disputes between two or more states: When there are conflicts or disputes regarding the laws, policies, or governance issues that involve multiple states, these cases can be directly taken to the Supreme Court.
The importance of original jurisdiction lies in its role in ensuring that significant cases with national implications are efficiently resolved at the highest judicial level, maintaining stability within the Union and the states.