{"id":136387,"date":"2024-10-09T15:01:50","date_gmt":"2024-10-09T09:31:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/?post_type=docs&#038;p=136387"},"modified":"2024-12-26T11:59:22","modified_gmt":"2024-12-26T06:29:22","password":"","slug":"high-court-jurisdiction-powers-india","status":"publish","type":"docs","link":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/docs\/high-court-jurisdiction-powers-india","title":{"rendered":"Understanding the Jurisdiction and Powers of High Courts in India"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/upsc-notes\/high-court\/\"><b>High Courts in India<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are crucial to the country&#8217;s judicial system, serving as the<\/span><b> highest courts of appeal at the state level<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. They possess extensive powers, including <\/span><b>original and appellate jurisdiction, writ jurisdiction, and supervisory authority<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> over subordinate courts. The<\/span><b> Constitution of India<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> endows these courts with the responsibility of <\/span><b>safeguarding <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/upsc-notes\/fundamental-rights\/\"><b>fundamental rights <\/b><\/a><b>and ensuring justice<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, making their independence essential for the effective functioning of the judiciary.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 18pt; color: #ff6600;\"><b>Jurisdiction and Powers of High Courts: An Overview<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16pt;\"><b>Overview of High Courts<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Powers of High Courts: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Similar to the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/upsc-notes\/supreme-court\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Supreme Court<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the Constitution also vests High Courts with <\/span><b>extensive and effective powers.\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Highest Court of Appeal: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is said to be\u00a0 the<\/span><b> highest court of appeal in the state<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For its citizens, it is said to\u00a0 be the <\/span><b>protector of Fundamental Rights<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Constitutional Interpretation:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> It also has the power to <\/span><b>interpret the Constitution<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Besides, it also\u00a0 has <\/span><b>supervisory and consultative roles<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Lack of Detailed Provisions: The<\/b> <b>Constitution does not contain detailed provisions regarding the jurisdiction and powers of a High Court.<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Historical Jurisdiction: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For the jurisdiction and powers of a High Court\u00a0 it is found to be the same as<\/span><b> it was before the commencement of the Constitution<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Addition of Revenue Jurisdiction: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But, with a few additions, the Constitution gives a High Court jurisdiction over revenue matters, which was not prevalent in the pre-Constitution era.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Additional Powers of High Courts: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Constitution confers additional powers on a High Court like <\/span><b>writ jurisdiction, power of superintendence, consultative power, etc<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Legislative Authority to Change Jurisdiction: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, it empowers the <\/span><b>Parliament and the state legislature<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to change the jurisdiction and powers of a High Court.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Current Jurisdiction and Powers of High Courts: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At present, a High Court enjoys the following jurisdiction and powers:\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Original jurisdiction<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Writ jurisdiction<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Appellate jurisdiction\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Supervisory jurisdiction<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Control over subordinate courts\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A court of record\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Power of judicial review<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><i><span class=\"vc_button\"><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pw.live\/batches\/upsc?utm_source=seo+upsc+batch&#038;utm_medium=seo+upsc&#038;utm_campaign=seo&#038;utm_id=upsc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i>Enroll now for UPSC Online Course<\/i><\/a><i><\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Governing Framework for High Court Jurisdiction and Powers: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The present jurisdiction and powers of a High Court are governed by:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Constitutional provisions<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Letters Patent<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Acts of Parliament<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Acts of State Legislature<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Indian Penal Code, 1860<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Criminal Procedure Code, 1973<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Civil Procedure Code, 1908<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Note: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Judicial Integrity potentially refers to a judge\u2019s independence, incorruptibility, and potential bias \u2013 political, personal or otherwise. Consider a scenario where a High Court is faced with a challenge to maintain judicial integrity.\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16pt;\"><b>Original Jurisdiction<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Article 225<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: it confers the power of a High Court to hear disputes in the first instance, and not by way of appeal.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>It extends to the given\u00a0 following matters:\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n<li><b>Matters of admiralty<\/b><\/li>\n<li><b>Contempt of court<\/b><\/li>\n<li><b>Regarding election disputes\u00a0 of the\u00a0 members of Parliament and <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/udaan\/state-legislatures-in-india\/\"><b>state legislatures<\/b><\/a><b>.\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n<li><b>Regarding revenue matters\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n<li><b>Enforcement of fundamental rights of citizens.\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Cases transferred from a subordinate court<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> which involves the <\/span><b>interpretation of the Constitution.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Original Civil Jurisdiction of High Courts: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The\u00a0 High courts such as <\/span><b>\u00a0Calcutta, Bombay, Madras and Delhi High Courts<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> have original civil jurisdiction in cases of<\/span><b> higher value<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Abolition of Original Criminal Jurisdiction:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The <\/span><b>Criminal Procedure Code, 1973<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> abolished the powers of\u00a0 original criminal jurisdiction vested in the <\/span><b>Calcutta, Bombay and Madras High Courts<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16pt;\"><b>Writ Jurisdiction<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Writ Power of the High Court: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As per <\/span><b>Article 226<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of the Constitution, the High Court\u00a0 is empowered to issue writs which\u00a0 include <\/span><b>habeas corpus, mandamus, certiorari, prohibition and quo-warranto <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">for not only enforcement of the fundamental rights of the citizens but also for\u00a0 any other purpose.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Scope of Writs Issued by the High Court: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The phrase \u2018<\/span><b>for any other purpose\u2019 <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">denotes the enforcement of an <\/span><b>ordinary legal right<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At the same time, it also issues writs to <\/span><b>any person, authority and government <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">within and outside its territorial jurisdiction.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Concurrent Writ Jurisdiction: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The writ jurisdiction of the High Court is<\/span><b> not exclusive but concurrent with the writ jurisdiction of the Supreme Court<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Options for Aggrieved Parties:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> It means that when the Fundamental Rights of a citizen are violated, the aggrieved party has the option of moving<\/span><b> either the High Court or the Supreme Court directly.\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Wider Jurisdiction of the High Court: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, <\/span><b>the writ jurisdiction of the High Court is wider than that of the Supreme Court <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">because the Supreme Court can issue writs only for the enforcement of fundamental rights, i.e., <\/span><b>it does not extend to a case where the breach of an ordinary legal right is alleged<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Comparison of High Court and Supreme Court Writ Jurisdiction:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The High Court Jurisdiction is wider than the Supreme Court can be seen from the following factors in the table:<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #ff5e00;\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><b>Factors<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #ff5e00;\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><b>Supreme Court<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #ff5e00;\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><b>High Court<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><b>Purpose<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It only enforces<\/span><b> fundamental rights<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is not only to enforce<\/span><b> Fundamental rights but also for other purposes<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> which includes the\u00a0 enforcement of an ordinary legal right.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><b>Territorial Jurisdiction<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is against <\/span><b>any person or government<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> throughout the territory of India.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is against <\/span><b>any\u00a0 person residing, government or authority located within its territorial jurisdiction only.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It can be outside the territorial jurisdiction only if the cause of action arises within its territorial jurisdiction.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><b>Power<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As per <\/span><b>Article 32<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the <\/span><b>Supreme Court can not refuse to exercise its power<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in issuing the writs<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The<\/span><b> High Court may refuse to exercise its power to issue writs<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> i.e. it is discretionary power.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Judicial Precedent: L. Chandra Kumar Case (1997):<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> During the <\/span><b>L. Chandra<\/b><b><i> Kumar case (1997)<\/i><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the Supreme Court held\u00a0 that the <\/span><b>writ jurisdiction of both the High Court and the Supreme Court constitutes a part of the basic structure<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of the Constitution.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Therefore, <\/span><b>it cannot be ousted or excluded by way of an amendment to the Constitution<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16pt;\"><b>Appellate Jurisdiction\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>High Court as a Court of Appeal: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The\u00a0 High Court is primarily a court of appeal because it hears appeals against the judgments of subordinate courts functioning in its territorial jurisdiction.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Appellate Jurisdiction in Civil and Criminal Matters:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> It has appellate jurisdiction in both civil and criminal matters.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Comparison of Appellate and Original Jurisdiction: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Therefore we can say that\u00a0 <\/span><b>the appellate jurisdiction of a High Court is wider than its original jurisdiction.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16pt;\"><b>Civil Matters<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>\u00a0Civil Appellate Jurisdiction: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The civil appellate jurisdiction of a High Court is as follows:<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>First Appeals:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> From the orders and judgements of the district courts, additional district courts and other subordinate courts lie directly to the High Court\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">on both <\/span><b>questions of law and fact<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> if the amount exceeds the stipulated limit.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Second Appeals:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> From the orders and judgements of the district court or other subordinate courts lie to the High Court\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the cases involving <\/span><b>questions of law only<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><b>not questions of fact<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Intra-Court Appeals:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The <\/span><b>Calcutta, Bombay and Madras High Courts<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> have provision for intra-court appeals.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Appeals from Single Judge Decisions:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> If a case has been decided by a single judge of the High Court under the <\/span><b>original or appellate jurisdiction of the High Court<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> then an appeal from such a decision lies to the <\/span><b>division bench of the same High Court.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Appeals from Administrative and Other Tribunals:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Appeals from the decisions of the administrative and other tribunals lie to the <\/span><b>division bench of the state High Court<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Supreme Court Ruling on Tribunal Decisions: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>Supreme Court in 1997<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> ruled that the tribunals are subject to the writ jurisdiction of the High Court s.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At the same time, <\/span><b>it is not possible for an aggrieved person to approach the Supreme Court directly <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">against the decisions of the tribunals without <\/span><b>first going to the High Courts.\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16pt;\"><b>Criminal Matters<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Criminal Appellate Jurisdiction Overview: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The criminal appellate jurisdiction of a High Court is as follows:<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Appeals from Sessions Courts: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If the imprisonment sentence is more than seven years then the appeals from the judgments of sessions court and additional sessions court lie to the High Court .<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Confirmation of Capital Punishment: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Capital punishment\u00a0 awarded by a sessions court or an additional sessions court should be<\/span><b> confirmed by the High Court before it can be executed<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, whether there is an appeal by the convicted person or not.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Appeals from Magistrates: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As per the<\/span><b> Criminal Procedure Code (1973<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), the appeals from the judgements of the a<\/span><b>ssistant sessions judge, metropolitan magistrate or other magistrates <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">lie to the High Court.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16pt;\"><b>Supervisory Jurisdiction<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Power of Superintendence Overview: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As per <\/span><b>Article 227<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the\u00a0 High Court has power of superintendence over <\/span><b>all other subordinate courts and tribunals<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> functioning in its territorial jurisdiction <\/span><b>except military courts or tribunals<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Thus, it may<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2013\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Authority to Call for Returns: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Call for returns from such courts<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Rule-Making and Regulation:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Make and issue general rules and prescribe forms for regulating the practices and proceedings of such courts<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Bookkeeping and Record-Keeping Standards: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">prescribe forms in which books, entries and accounts shall be kept by the officers of any such courts.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Fee Settlements for Court Officials:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Settle the fees payable to the sheriff, clerks, officers and legal practitioners of them.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Scope of Superintendence Power: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This power of superintendence of a High Court is very broad because,<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Extends to <\/span><b>all courts and tribunals <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">although subjected to the appellate jurisdiction or not<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Covers <\/span><b>administrative superintendence as well as judicial superintendence<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It acts\u00a0 a<\/span><b> revisional jurisdiction<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It can be <\/span><b>suo-motu<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and not necessarily on the application of a party.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Limitations of Superintendence Power: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, this power does not give the High Court any unlimited authority over the subordinate courts and tribunals. Although it seems to be an <\/span><b>extraordinary power<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, it has to be <\/span><b>used most sparingly <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and <\/span><b>only in appropriate cases<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. <\/span><b>Usually, it is limited to,\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Excess of jurisdiction<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gross violation of natural justice<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Error of law<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Disregard to the law of superior courts<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Perverse findings,\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Manifest injustice<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16pt;\"><b>Control over Subordinate Courts\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Control Over District Courts and Subordinate Courts: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As per <\/span><b>Article 235, <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the High Court has control over district courts and subordinate courts.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In addition to <\/span><b>Appellate and supervisory jurisdiction<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> over the Subordinate courts as mentioned above, the\u00a0 High Court\u00a0 also has <\/span><b>administrative control and several other powers over them<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>These includes the following:\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n<li><b>Consultation by the Governor:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in the matters of <\/span><b>appointment, posting and promotion of district judges.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Appointments to the Judicial Service: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Appointments of persons to the <\/span><b>judicial service of the state other than district judges<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Administrative Control Over Judicial Service Members: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Deals with the matters of <\/span><b>posting, promotion, grant of leave, transfers and discipline<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of the members of the<\/span><b> judicial service of the state<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> other than district judges.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Withdrawal of Cases:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Withdraws a case pending in a subordinate court if it involves a <\/span><b>substantial question of law<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If it requires the <\/span><b>interpretation of the Constitution<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or either dispose of the case itself or determine the question of law and return the case to the subordinate court with its judgement.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Binding Nature of High Court Judgments:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Laws declared by High Courts are<\/span><b> binding on all subordinate courts<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> functioning within its territorial jurisdiction in the same sense as the law declared by the Supreme Court is binding on all courts in India.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16pt;\"><b>A Court of Record<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Powers of the High Court as a Court of Record: As per Article 215, <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">every High Court has the\u00a0 following powers with respect to\u00a0 Court of Record<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-136390 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/1.webp\" alt=\"\" width=\"373\" height=\"259\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/1.webp 373w, https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/1-300x208.webp 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 373px) 100vw, 373px\" \/><\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Recording of Judgments and Proceedings: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The judgements, proceedings and acts of the High Court which are recorded for <\/span><b>perpetual memory and testimony<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and may be admitted as<\/span><b> evidentiary value and cannot be questioned<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> when produced before any court.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Legal Precedent and Reference: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is also recognised as a legal precedent and legal reference<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Contempt of Court Authority:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> It has the power to <\/span><b>punish for contempt of court<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, either with <\/span><b>simple imprisonment for a term up to six months or with both.\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Power of Review and Correction: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The High Court also has the power to review and correct its own judgement or order or decision, even though the <\/span><b>Constitution does not confer any specific power of review<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But,on the other hand, the <\/span><b>Supreme Court has specifically conferred with the power of review by the Constitution<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16pt;\"><b>Power of Judicial Review\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Definition of Judicial Review: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This term denotes the power of the High Court to examine the constitutionality of <\/span><b>legislative enactments and executive orders<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of not only the Central but also state governments.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If it is found that the law in question <\/span><b>violates the Constitution <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(ultra-vires) then it can be declared as<\/span><b> illegal, unconstitutional and invalid <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">by the High Court.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Consequently, <\/span><b>they cannot be enforced by the Government.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Judicial Review in the Constitution: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The phrase \u2018judicial review\u2019 has nowhere been used in the Constitution, but with provisions such as\u00a0 <\/span><b>Article 13 and 226 <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">it explicitly confers the power of judicial review for a High Court.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>Grounds for Challenging Constitutional Validity: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The constitutional validity of any act or an executive order can be challenged in a High Court from the following<\/span><b> three grounds<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>It infringes the fundamental rights (Part III),<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>It is outside the competence of the authority,\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>It is repugnant to the constitutional provisions.\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>42nd and 43rd Amendment Act: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, the<\/span><b> 42nd Amendment Act of 1976 curtailed the power of the High Court<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It debarred the High Court from considering the <\/span><b>constitutional validity of any central law.\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But later, the <\/span><b>43rd Amendment Act of 1977 restored the original position<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16pt;\"><b>Other Powers<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Transfer of Certain Cases to High Court:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> As per <\/span><b>Article 228<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the High Court is empowered to <\/span><b>withdraw a case that is pending in a subordinate court<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> which involves a s<\/span><b>ubstantial question of law or required constitutional interpretation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Officers and Servants and the Expenses of the High Court:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> As per <\/span><b>Article 229<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the <\/span><b>Chief Justice of the High Court<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> has the freedom to <\/span><b>appoint the officers and servants of the High Court <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">without any executive interference.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>Chief Justice<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is also empowered to prescribe their<\/span><b> condition of services<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><i><span class=\"vc_button\"><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pw.live\/batches\/upsc?utm_source=seo+upsc+batch&#038;utm_medium=seo+upsc&#038;utm_campaign=seo&#038;utm_id=upsc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i>Enroll now for UPSC Online Course<\/i><\/a><i><\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 99.9292%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 367.92%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #ff5e00; text-align: center;\" colspan=\"2\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><b>Must Read<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50.1577%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/current-affairs\/\"><b>Current Affairs<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 317.762%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/editorial-analysis\/\"><b>Editorial Analysis<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50.1577%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/upsc-notes\"><b>Upsc Notes\u00a0<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 317.762%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/blogs\/\"><b>Upsc Blogs\u00a0<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50.1577%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/ncert-notes\/\"><b>NCERT Notes<\/b><\/a><b>\u00a0<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 317.762%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/mains-answer-writing\/\"><b>Free Main Answer Writing<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Conclusion<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>High Court&#8217;s multifaceted jurisdiction and powers <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">are vital for upholding the <\/span><b>rule of law and protecting citizens&#8217; rights.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Through their ability to <\/span><b>review laws, supervise lower courts, and interpret the Constitution<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, High Courts play a key role in maintaining<\/span><b> judicial integrity and accountability<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As<\/span><b> guardians of justice<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, they ensure that the legal system operates<\/span><b> fairly and transparently for all<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><b><i>Sign up for the<\/i><\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pw.live\/batches\/upsc?utm_source=seo+upsc+batch&#038;utm_medium=seo+upsc&#038;utm_campaign=seo&#038;utm_id=upsc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <b><i>PWOnlyIAS Online Course by Physics Wallah<\/i><\/b><\/a><b><i> and start your journey to IAS success today!<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 100.126%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 155.788%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #ff5e00; text-align: center;\" colspan=\"2\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><b>Related Articles\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50.2123%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/upsc-notes\/fundamental-rights\/\">Fundamental Rights (Article 12-35)<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 105.576%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/upsc-notes\/high-court\/\">High Courts in India<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50.2123%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/upsc-notes\/supreme-court\/\">Supreme Court<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 105.576%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/udaan\/state-legislatures-in-india\/\">State Legislatures in India: Structure, Function, and Constitutional Provisions<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>To help you prepare for the UPSC Exam, learn about the broad jurisdiction and powers of High Courts in India, including original, writ, appellate, and supervisory authority.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":38,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"rank_math_lock_modified_date":false,"footnotes":""},"doc_category":[122],"doc_tag":[5921],"acf":[],"year_month":"2026-04","word_count":2357,"total_views":"0","reactions":{"happy":"1","normal":"0","sad":"0"},"author_info":{"name":"Priyanka","author_nicename":"priyanka6","author_url":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/author\/priyanka6"},"doc_category_info":[{"term_name":"INDIAN POLITY","term_url":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/docs-category\/indian-polity"}],"doc_tag_info":[{"term_name":"High Court","term_url":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/docs-tag\/high-court"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/docs\/136387"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/docs"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/docs"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/38"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=136387"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/docs\/136387\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":148776,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/docs\/136387\/revisions\/148776"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=136387"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"doc_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/doc_category?post=136387"},{"taxonomy":"doc_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/doc_tag?post=136387"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}