The Judiciary: Supreme Court, High Courts, Subordinate Courts and Judicial Review
The Judiciary: Supreme Court, High Courts, Subordinate Courts and Judicial Review
India has a single integrated judiciary with the Supreme Court at the top, High Courts in the states and subordinate courts below. NTPC asks the articles that set up the courts, the appointment and removal of judges, their jurisdictions and writ powers, and the idea of judicial review.
1. Supreme Court (Articles 124-147)
| Item | Facts |
|---|---|
| Established | 28 January 1950 |
| Strength | Chief Justice and up to 37 other judges (38 in all), raised from 34 by the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Act 2026 |
| Appointment | By the President (collegium system) |
| Retirement age | 65 years |
| Removal | By the President after an address by both Houses with a special majority (proved misbehaviour or incapacity) |
| Original jurisdiction | Article 131 (Centre-state and inter-state disputes) |
| Writs | Article 32 |
| Advisory jurisdiction | Article 143 (President may seek the Court's opinion) |
| Court of record | Article 129 |
2. High Courts (Articles 214-231)
| Item | Facts |
|---|---|
| Number | 25 |
| Retirement age | 62 years |
| Writs | Article 226 (for Fundamental Rights and other legal rights) |
| Oldest | Calcutta High Court (1862) |
| Common High Court | Parliament can set up one High Court for two or more states (Article 231) |
3. Subordinate Courts and Judicial Review
Subordinate courts: Articles 233-237; district judges appointed by the Governor in consultation with the High Court
Judicial review: courts can strike down laws that violate the Constitution (Articles 13, 32, 226); borrowed from the USA
Basic structure doctrine: Kesavananda Bharati case (1973)
✗ High Courts issue writs under Article 32 | ✓ The Supreme Court uses Article 32; High Courts use Article 226
✗ Supreme Court judges retire at 62 | ✓ They retire at 65; High Court judges retire at 62
हिंदी नोट: सर्वोच्च न्यायालय (अनुच्छेद 124) में मुख्य न्यायाधीश सहित 38 न्यायाधीश (2026 संशोधन) हो सकते हैं; सेवानिवृत्ति आयु 65 वर्ष। उच्च न्यायालय अनुच्छेद 226 के तहत रिट जारी करते हैं और वहाँ सेवानिवृत्ति आयु 62 वर्ष है। मूल ढाँचा सिद्धांत केशवानंद भारती मामले (1973) से आया।
Exam Pointer: Verified NTPC pattern: the article giving High Courts writ jurisdiction (June 2025 Graduate CBT-1). Supreme Court strength, retirement and judicial-review questions are tagged syllabus-based.
Pariksha Pattern: Every Way NTPC Asks This Topic
Pattern 1: Writ jurisdiction of High Courts
[PYQ: NTPC Graduate CBT-1 11-Jun-2025 Shift-3]
EXAM LEVEL
Q. Under which article do High Courts issue writs?
Article 226.
Answer: Article 226
EXAMATLAS LEVEL
Q. Why is the writ power of High Courts called wider than that of the Supreme Court, and under which article can one High Court serve two states?
Under Article 226 High Courts can issue writs for Fundamental Rights and for other legal rights, while Article 32 covers only Fundamental Rights. Article 231 allows a common High Court.
Answer: It covers other legal rights too; Article 231
Pattern 2: Supreme Court: strength, judges and jurisdiction
[Pattern: syllabus-based, PYQ-style]
EXAM LEVEL
Q. At what age do Supreme Court judges retire?
65 years.
Answer: 65
EXAMATLAS LEVEL
Q. Under which article does the Supreme Court hear disputes between the Centre and states, and under which can the President seek its advice?
Article 131 (original jurisdiction) and Article 143 (advisory jurisdiction).
Answer: 131; 143
Pattern 3: High Courts: facts and figures
[Pattern: syllabus-based, PYQ-style]
EXAM LEVEL
Q. Which is the oldest High Court in India?
The Calcutta High Court, established in 1862.
Answer: Calcutta High Court
EXAMATLAS LEVEL
Q. At what age do High Court judges retire, and how many High Courts does India have?
62 years; 25 High Courts.
Answer: 62; 25
Pattern 4: Judicial review and basic structure
[Pattern: syllabus-based, PYQ-style]
EXAM LEVEL
Q. From which country did India borrow judicial review?
The USA.
Answer: USA
EXAMATLAS LEVEL
Q. In which case did the Supreme Court lay down the basic structure doctrine, and in which year?
Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala, 1973.
Answer: Kesavananda Bharati, 1973
60-Second Revision
- SC: Art 124, 38 judges (2026 Act), retire 65; Art 131 original, 143 advisory, 32 writs.
- HC: 25 courts, retire 62, Art 226 writs (wider), Art 231 common HC.
- Oldest HC: Calcutta 1862.
- Basic structure: Kesavananda Bharati 1973.