Question

What is the territorial jurisdiction of a High Court?

Answer 1

Hint: The Indian Judicial system is an integrated one. This means that it has a hierarchical structure such that the Supreme Court is at the apex, followed by the High Courts at the state level and the lower courts at the district level. The Supreme Court is the highest court of appeal and the final interpreter of the Constitution. According to Article 141 of the Constitution, all courts in India, including the High Courts, are bound by the judgments and orders of the Supreme Court by precedence.

Complete Step by Step answer: Territorial jurisdiction determines the courts' scope of power. For High Courts in India, their territorial jurisdiction is confined to the boundaries of their respective state or states and union territories. High Courts function as the highest civil courts in states and have original jurisdiction over matters designated specifically in a state or federal law. They have the power to issue writs to enforce fundamental rights within their state. The High Courts of Calcutta, Bombay and Madras have original jurisdiction in criminal and civil cases emerging within these cities. At the administrative level, the High Courts also oversee the working of the subordinate courts and can transfer cases to itself or another court. Similar to the Supreme Court, the High Courts also have the power of judicial review.

Note: At present, there are 25 High Courts in India with some states sharing a common High Court. Constitutional provisions for the High Courts, including their organisation and jurisdiction, are mentioned in Articles 214-231 of the Indian Constitution.