UPSC Prelims 2014 · Question 51 of 100
UPSC Prelims 2014 question on Supreme Court Centre State Disputes
- ExamUPSC CSE
- Year2014
- PaperGeneral Studies Paper I
- SubjectPolity
- TopicHigher Judiciary (SC and HC)
- DifficultyEasy
- TypeDirect
The power of the Supreme Court of India to decide disputes between the Centre and the States falls under its
Show answer
Answer: C. original jurisdiction
Verdict
The answer is original jurisdiction. Disputes between the Centre and the States go directly to the Supreme Court under Article 131.
Analysis
Original jurisdiction means a case may be filed in the Supreme Court in the first instance, and Article 131 reserves federal disputes, between the Union and one or more States or between States, for exactly that treatment. Appellate jurisdiction is wrong because it concerns appeals from High Courts and requires a prior decision below. Advisory jurisdiction is wrong because Article 143 covers references made by the President for an opinion, which is not binding adjudication. Writ jurisdiction under Article 32 concerns enforcement of fundamental rights, which is a different head altogether.
Source
M. Laxmikanth, Indian Polity.
How to crack it
The four jurisdictions of the Supreme Court are separated by who can bring the matter and at what stage. Original means first instance and federal disputes under Article 131, writ means fundamental rights under Article 32, appellate means from the courts below, advisory means a presidential reference under Article 143. Attach one article number to each head and this entire question family reduces to a single recall. Note that Article 32 is also technically original, so read the option set for the more specific label.