MPPSC 2021 Prelims Paper-I · Question 93 of 100

Correct — D, Original jurisdiction. Article 131 gives the Supreme Court exclusive original jurisdiction over disputes between the Government of India and one or more States, or between States themselves, where a question of law or fact affecting a legal right is involved. Only the Supreme Court — as the court of first and sole instance — can hear such a dispute.

• (a)Appellate jurisdiction — Appellate jurisdiction (Articles 132-136) lets the Supreme Court hear appeals against judgments of High Courts or lower courts; a Centre-State dispute is not an appeal — it originates directly at the Supreme Court.
• (b)Advisory jurisdiction — Advisory jurisdiction (Article 143) is invoked only when the President refers a question of law or fact to the Court for its non-binding opinion; it does not adjudicate binding Centre-State disputes.
• (c)Constitutional jurisdiction — Not a distinct head of jurisdiction named anywhere in the Constitution — a loosely used umbrella phrase, not the Constitution's own term for this specific power (Article 131 = original jurisdiction).

The Supreme Court's jurisdiction has distinct heads: original (Article 131 — Centre-State/inter-State disputes, heard as the court of first and only instance), appellate (Articles 132-136 — appeals from High Courts on constitutional, civil, criminal matters and via Special Leave), advisory (Article 143 — a Presidential reference), and writ (Article 32 — enforcing Fundamental Rights). Only original jurisdiction covers federal Centre-State disputes.

Students often reach for 'constitutional jurisdiction' because Centre-State disputes sound inherently constitutional — but the Constitution itself names this specific power 'original jurisdiction' under Article 131, not a separate 'constitutional' head.

• Article 131: Supreme Court's exclusive original jurisdiction over Centre-State and inter-State disputes
• Articles 132-136: appellate jurisdiction (constitutional, civil, criminal appeals, and Special Leave Petitions)
• Article 143: advisory jurisdiction, invoked only via a Presidential reference
• Article 32: writ jurisdiction for enforcing Fundamental Rights

• Confusing 'original jurisdiction' with an imagined 'constitutional jurisdiction'
• Mixing up original jurisdiction (Centre-State disputes) with writ jurisdiction (individual rights enforcement)

Almost always a direct 'this power falls under which jurisdiction' question, or a match-the-jurisdiction-to-its-Article list.

• practice — not a real PYQ

  Under which Article does the Supreme Court exercise advisory jurisdiction, giving its opinion on a question referred by the President?

  • (a)Article 131
  • (b)Article 136
  • (c)Article 143
  • (d)Article 32

  Answer(c) Article 143 — advisory jurisdiction, invoked by a Presidential reference.

• practice — not a real PYQ

  A river-water sharing dispute between the Government of Kerala and the Government of Tamil Nadu would be heard by the Supreme Court under its:

  • (a)Appellate jurisdiction
  • (b)Original jurisdiction
  • (c)Advisory jurisdiction
  • (d)Writ jurisdiction

  Answer(b) Original jurisdiction — Article 131 covers disputes between States.