Supreme
Court High Courts Lok
Adalat
Judicial System
The judiciary is relatively independent and the legal system is
based on English common law. India's independent judicial system
began under the British, and its concepts and procedures resemble
those of Anglo-Saxon countries. The Supreme Court consists of a
chief justice and 25 other justices, all appointed by the
president on the advice of the prime minister.
The Supreme Court is the apex court in the country. The High
Court stands at the head of the state's judicial administration.
Each state is divided into judicial districts presided over by a
district and sessions judge, who is the highest judicicial
authority in a district. Below him, there are courts of civil
jurisdiction, known in different states as munsifs, sub-judges,
civil judges and the like. Similarly, criminal judiciary comprises
chief judicial magistrate and judicial magistrates of first and
second class.
Supreme
Court
The Supreme Court has original, appellate and advisory
jurisdiction. Its exclusive original jurisdiction extends to all
disputes between the Union and one or more states or between two
or more states. The Constitution gives an extensive original
jurisdiction to the Supreme Court to enforce Fundamental Rights.
Appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court can be invoked by a
certificate of the High Court concerned or by special leave
granted by the Supreme Court in respect of any judgement, decree
or final order of a High Court in cases both civil and criminal,
involving substantial questions of law as to the interpretation of
the constitution. The President may consult the Supreme Court on
any question of fact or law of public importance.
The Supreme Court of India comprises of the Chief Justice and not
more than 25 other Judges appointed by the President. Judges hold
office till 65 years of age.
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High
Courts
There are 18 High Courts in the country, three having
jurisdiction over more than one state. Bombay High Court has the
jurisdiction over Maharashtra, Goa, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and
Daman and Diu. Guwahati High Court, which was earlier known as
Assam High Court, has the jurisdiction over Assam, Manipur,
Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tripura, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh.
Punjab and Haryana High Court has the jurisdiction over Punjab,
Haryana and Chandigarh.
Among the Union Territories, Delhi alone has had a High Court of
its own. The other six Union Territories come under jurisdiction
of different state High Courts. The Chief Justice of a High Court
is appointed by the President in consultation with the Chief
Justice of India and the Governor of the state. Each High Court
has powers of superintendence over all courts within its
jurisdiction. High Court judges retire at the age of 62.
The jurisdiction as well as the laws administered by a High Court
can be altered both by the Union and State Legislatures. Certain
High Courts, like those at Bombay, Calcutta and Madras, have
original and appellate jurisdictions. Under the original
jurisdiction suits, where the subject matter is valued at
Rs.25,000 or more, can be filed directly in the High Court. Most
High Courts have only appellate jurisdiction.
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Lok Adalat
Lok Adalats are voluntary agencies for resolution of disputes
through conciliatory method.
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