Which of the following are included in the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court?A dispute betw

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Question

Which of the following are included in the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court?A dispute between the Government of India and one or more States.A dispute regarding elections to either House of the Parliament or that of Legislature of a State.A dispute between the Government of India and a Union Territory.A dispute between two or more States.Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

Accepted Answer

Correct Answer: C — 1 and 4Solution:The original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court is defined under Article 131 of the Constitution. It covers disputes between:Statement 1 — Dispute between Government of India and one or more States: Included. Article 131 explicitly covers disputes between the Union of India and one or more states. ✓Statement 2 — Dispute regarding elections to Parliament or State Legislatures: Not included. Under Article 329, election disputes are specifically excluded from the jurisdiction of regular courts including the Supreme Court's original jurisdiction — they must be filed as election petitions before the relevant High Court. The Supreme Court hears election disputes only in appellate jurisdiction (not original jurisdiction). ✗Statement 3 — Dispute between Government of India and a Union Territory: Not included. Article 131 covers disputes between the Union and States, or between States — Union Territories are not 'States' under Article 131. A UT cannot invoke Article 131 original jurisdiction against the Union. ✗Statement 4 — Dispute between two or more States: Included. Article 131 explicitly covers disputes between two or more states. ✓Why other options are incorrect:Options A, B, D: All include Statements 2 or 3 which are outside the Article 131 original jurisdiction.Key Concept: Article 131 — Original Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court: covers disputes involving legal rights (not political disputes) between: Union vs. one or more states; one state vs. another state; Union and states on one side vs. one or more states on the other. Exclusion: disputes arising out of pre-constitutional treaties/agreements (Article 131, proviso). This jurisdiction is exclusive and mandatory — no other court can hear such disputes. Famous Article 131 cases: Karnataka-Tamil Nadu Cauvery water dispute; various inter-state river disputes; Centre-state fiscal disputes. The SC's original jurisdiction under Article 32 (enforcement of Fundamental Rights) is separate — it allows individuals to approach the SC directly for FR violations.

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More Questions from Supreme Court – Powers, Jurisdiction & Landmark Cases

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