Essential Facts About the Supreme Court of India for Competitive Exams

The Supreme Court of India holds a central place in the country’s judicial system, with a rich history and significant constitutional authority. If you’re preparing for competitive exams like UPSC, SSC CGL, Railway Recruitment, or other government jobs, understanding the Supreme Court and its constitutional provisions is crucial. Here’s a quick overview of key facts related to the Supreme Court and its role in the Indian Constitution.

Important Facts about the Supreme Court:

1. Formation of the Supreme Court:
   • Date: The Supreme Court of India was inaugurated on January 28, 1950, two days after India officially became a democratic republic.
2. Inauguration Venue:
   • Location: The Supreme Court was initially inaugurated in the Narendra Mandal (Chamber of Princes) of the old Parliament House, where it functioned for 12 years before moving to its present location.
3. First Chief Justice of India:
   • Name: Justice Harilal J. Kania was the first Chief Justice of India.
4. First Hearing:
   • Date: The first hearing of the Supreme Court took place on January 28, 1950. The bench included CJI Harilal Kania, Justice Fazl Ali, Justice Patanjali Sastri, Justice Mehr Chand Mahajan, Justice Bijan Kumar Mukherjea, and Justice SR Das.
5. First Case:
   • Case Name: The first case heard by the Supreme Court was Shankari Prasad vs. Government of India in 1951, a landmark case related to the constitutional validity of land reform laws.

Key Constitutional Articles Related to the Supreme Court:

1. Article 124: Establishment and constitution of the Supreme Court.
2. Article 125: Salaries of judges, etc.
3. Article 126: Appointment of Acting Chief Justice.
4. Article 127: Appointment of ad hoc Judges.
5. Article 128: Attendance of retired judges at sittings of the Supreme Court.
6. Article 129: Supreme Court to be a court of record.
7. Article 130: Seat of the Supreme Court (The Supreme Court shall sit in Delhi or such other place or places, as the Chief Justice of India may, with the approval of the President, appoint).
8. Article 131: Original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.
9. Article 131A: Exclusive jurisdiction of the Supreme Court in respect of questions as to the constitutional validity of Central laws (repealed).
10. Article 132: Appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court in appeals from high courts in certain cases.
11. Article 133: Appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court in appeals from the High Courts in respect of civil cases.
12. Article 134: Appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court in respect of criminal cases.
13. Article 134A: Certificate for appeal to the Supreme Court.
14. Article 135: Jurisdiction and powers of the Supreme Court under existing law.
15. Article 136: Special leave to appeal by the Supreme Court.
16. Article 137: Review of judgments or orders by the Supreme Court.
17. Article 138: Enlargement of the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.
18. Article 139: Power of the Supreme Court to issue certain writs.
19. Article 139A: Transfer of certain cases.
20. Article 140: Ancillary powers of the Supreme Court.
21. Article 141: Law declared by the Supreme Court is binding on all courts.
22. Article 142: Enforcement of decrees and orders of the Supreme Court.
23. Article 143: Power of the President to consult the Supreme Court.
24. Article 144: Civil and judicial authorities to act in aid of the Supreme Court.
25. Article 144A: Special provision for the settlement of disputes involving constitutional validity of laws (now repealed).
26. Article 145: Rules of court, etc.
27. Article 146: Expenses and salaries of officers and employees of the Supreme Court.
28. Article 147: Interpretation of the Constitution.

These topics are frequently tested in competitive exams, so having a solid understanding of them can help boost your General Knowledge section score.