Which of the following are included in the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court? 1. A dispute between the Government of India and one or more States 2. A dispute regarding elections to either House of the Parliament or that of Legislature of a State 3. A dispute between the Government of India and a Union Territory 4. A dispute between two or more States Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
Contents6
- A1 and 2
- B2 and 3
- C1 and 4
- D3 and 4
Show answer
Answer: (C) 1 and 4
The Supreme Court's original jurisdiction under Article 131 covers disputes:
(a) between the Government of India and one or more States (statement 1 correct),
and
(b) between two or more States (statement 4 correct).
Statement 2 is wrong — election disputes are handled by High Courts (under the Representation of People Act), not under the Supreme Court's original jurisdiction.
Statement 3 is wrong — Union Territories are NOT treated as 'States' for the purpose of Article 131.
Answer: 1 and 4.
Article 131 gives the Supreme Court exclusive original jurisdiction only in disputes between the Government of India and States, or between States themselves.
The key trap is that Union Territories are not treated as 'States' under Article 131, and election disputes go to High Courts under the Representation of People Act, not Supreme Court's original jurisdiction.
Supreme Court Original Jurisdiction
Indian Polity original jurisdiction Supreme Court Article 131
Supreme Court Original Jurisdiction: Article 131 & Key Exclusions
Article 131 gives Supreme Court exclusive original jurisdiction in inter-governmental disputes
Covers disputes between Centre vs States and State vs State only
Union Territories are NOT treated as States under Article 131
Election disputes go to High Courts, not Supreme Court's original jurisdiction
Original jurisdiction means the Supreme Court acts as the first court to hear certain disputes — no lower court can handle them. Article 131 defines this exclusive power for federal disputes between governments.
What Article 131 Covers
Type of Dispute | Covered? | Example |
|---|---|---|
Centre vs One or More States | ✓ YES | GoI vs Maharashtra + Karnataka |
State vs State (two or more) | ✓ YES | Punjab vs Haryana water dispute |
Centre vs Union Territory | ✗ NO | UTs are not 'States' under Art 131 |
Private Party vs State | ✗ NO | Not inter-governmental dispute |
Election Disputes | ✗ NO | High Courts handle under RPA |
This question tests Statement 1 (Centre vs States - correct) and Statement 4 (State vs State - correct). The traps are Statement 2 (elections) and Statement 3 (Union Territories).
Trap: Union Territories are NOT States for Article 131 — Centre vs UT disputes don't qualify
Trap: Election disputes go to High Courts under Representation of People Act, not SC's original jurisdiction
Trap: Original jurisdiction is exclusive — no other court can hear these disputes first
Trap: Don't confuse with appellate jurisdiction (hearing appeals) or advisory jurisdiction (Article 143)
Election Dispute Jurisdiction
Indian Polity elections dispute Parliament Legislature
Election Disputes: High Court Jurisdiction Under RPA
Election disputes for Parliament & State Legislature go to High Courts
Governed by Representation of People Act, not Article 131
NOT part of Supreme Court's original jurisdiction
Election disputes involve challenges to the validity of elections — these are handled by High Courts under the Representation of People Act, 1951, not by the Supreme Court's original jurisdiction.
Election Dispute Jurisdiction
Election Type | First Court | Legal Basis |
|---|---|---|
Lok Sabha elections | High Court | RPA 1951 |
Rajya Sabha elections | High Court | RPA 1951 |
State Assembly elections | High Court | RPA 1951 |
State Council elections | High Court | RPA 1951 |
Presidential elections | Supreme Court | Article 71 |
Vice-Presidential elections | Supreme Court | Article 71 |
Exception: Presidential & Vice-Presidential election disputes go directly to Supreme Court under Article 71
Trap: Parliament/Assembly election disputes seem 'big' but still go to High Courts first
Trap: Don't confuse election disputes with inter-state boundary disputes (which do go to SC)
Union Territories Constitutional Status
Indian Polity Union Territory Government of India
Union Territories: Why They're Not 'States' Under Article 131
Union Territories are directly administered by the Centre
NOT treated as 'States' for Article 131 dispute jurisdiction
Centre vs UT disputes don't qualify for Supreme Court's original jurisdiction
Union Territories are constitutional units directly controlled by the Central Government. Unlike States, they don't have separate governments that can have 'disputes' with the Centre under Article 131.
States vs Union Territories
Aspect | States | Union Territories |
|---|---|---|
Government | Separate State Government | Central Government (via LG/Administrator) |
Article 131 Status | Can dispute with Centre | Cannot dispute with Centre |
Constitutional Relationship | Federal partners | Direct Central administration |
Examples | Maharashtra, Punjab | Delhi, Puducherry, Chandigarh |
Trap: Even Delhi & Puducherry (with assemblies) are still UTs, not States for Article 131
Trap: UTs can have disputes, but they're internal administrative matters, not constitutional disputes
Trap: The question says 'Government of India and a Union Territory' — sounds plausible but constitutionally incorrect