The Supreme Court and the High Courts hold wide constitutional jurisdictions to act as the interpreters of the supreme law of the land.
1. Jurisdictions of the Supreme Court
- Original Jurisdiction (Article 131): Exclusive power to decide federal disputes between the Centre and States, or between two or more States.
- Appellate Jurisdiction (Articles 132-134): Appeals against High Court decisions in constitutional, civil, or criminal matters.
- Special Leave Petition (Article 136): Discretionary power to grant special leave to appeal against any judgment, decree, or sentence passed by any court or tribunal in India (excluding military tribunals).
- Advisory Jurisdiction (Article 143): The President can refer questions of law or fact of public importance to the Supreme Court for its opinion. (This opinion is not binding on the President or the Court).
2. Jurisdictions of the High Courts
- Writ Jurisdiction (Article 226): Power to issue writs for the enforcement of Fundamental Rights and for "any other purpose" (ordinary legal rights), making Article 226 wider in scope than Article 32.
- Power of Superintendence (Article 227): Power of administrative and judicial superintendence over all subordinate courts and tribunals within its territorial jurisdiction.