Supreme Court of India & High Courts of India

Supreme Court of India

• Official Website: supremecourt.gov.in
• Established: 26 January 1950 (formally inaugurated on 28 January 1950)
• Constitutional Basis: Articles 124 to 147 of the Constitution of India.

Role & Significance:

The Supreme Court of India is the highest court of the land and the ultimate guardian of the Constitution. It serves as:

• Constitutional Interpreter: Ensures that legislative and executive actions conform to the Constitution.
• Court of Record: Its judgments are binding precedents for all other courts.
• Protector of Fundamental Rights: Through Article 32, individuals can directly approach the Court to enforce their rights.
• Final Appellate Court: Hears appeals from High Courts and other tribunals in civil, criminal, and constitutional matters.
• Advisory Role: Under Article 143, the President of India can seek its opinion on constitutional or legal questions.
• Judicial Review: Strikes down unconstitutional laws or government actions (e.g., Kesavananda Bharati case on basic structure doctrine).

The Supreme Court symbolizes unity of law in India, ensuring that justice is uniform, impartial, and in line with constitutional values.

High Courts of India

Constitutional Basis:

• High Courts are established under Articles 214 to 231 of the Constitution of India.
• Every state has a High Court, though in some cases, a single High Court serves multiple states or union territories.

Functions of High Courts:

• Jurisdiction: Exercise original, appellate, and writ jurisdiction (Article 226 empowers them to issue writs for enforcement of fundamental rights and other legal rights).
• Superintendence: Control over all subordinate courts and tribunals within their jurisdiction.
• Guardian of State Laws: Interpret state legislation and ensure its compliance with the Constitution.
• Discipline & Administration: Supervise recruitment, posting, and functioning of judicial officers in subordinate courts.

Historical Note:

The first three High Courts in India were set up by the Indian High Courts Act, 1861 at Calcutta, Bombay, and Madras. Gradually, more High Courts were added, especially after the reorganization of states post-independence.

List of High Courts of India (with Establishment Year & Website)

Conclusion

The Supreme Court of India and the High Courts together form the higher judiciary, the backbone of the justice delivery system. While the Supreme Court provides final authority and ensures constitutional supremacy, the High Courts play a critical role in administering justice at the state level and supervising subordinate courts.

This dual structure ensures that India’s judicial system remains both centralized in authority and localized in accessibility, safeguarding the principles of justice, equality, and rule of law.