Consider the following statements:
1. Article 131 provides exclusive original jurisdiction to High Courts in federal disputes.
2. The Supreme Court can adjudicate disputes between States under Article 131.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
The correct answer is option 2 i.e. Only 2.
Article 131 of the Indian Constitution vests Exclusive Original Jurisdiction in the Supreme Court, not the High Courts. This means the Supreme Court is the sole authority to hear disputes involving the Government of India and one or more States, or disputes between two or more States.
Since these are "federal disputes" involving different units of the Indian Federation, they bypass lower courts to ensure a final and authoritative resolution. This jurisdiction is "original" because the cases begin directly in the Supreme Court rather than coming through appeals.