What is Article 131 of Indian Constitution – Defination & Meaning

Article 131: Original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the Supreme Court shall, to the exclusion of any other
📅 Part V – The Union
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Article Number

131

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Part V – The Union

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Active

Bare Acts Text

Article 131: Original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court

  • Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the Supreme Court shall, to the exclusion of any other court, have original jurisdiction in any dispute—
    • (a) between the Government of India and one or more States; or
    • (b) between the Government of India and any State or States on one side and one or more other States on the other; or
    • (c) between two or more States, if and in so far as the dispute involves any question (whether of law or fact) on which the existence or extent of a legal right depends:
  • Provided that the said jurisdiction shall not extend to a dispute arising out of any treaty, agreement, covenant, engagement, sanad or other similar instrument which, having been entered into or executed before the commencement of this Constitution, continues in operation after such commencement, or which provides that the said jurisdiction shall not extend to such a dispute.
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Full Definition & Explanation

Article 131 of the Indian Constitution grants the Supreme Court original jurisdiction in specific disputes. This means that the Supreme Court can hear certain cases first, without them being presented in any lower court. The disputes covered include those between the Government of India and one or more States, as well as disputes between different States. This jurisdiction is key for maintaining order and resolving conflicts between different levels of government in India. The article also sets boundaries for its jurisdiction. Any disputes arising from treaties or agreements made before the Constitution came into effect are excluded. This ensures that existing legal arrangements are respected and not arbitrarily altered by the new Constitution. The focus of Article 131 is on ensuring that conflicts over legal rights are resolved at the highest level, thereby preventing confusion and inefficiency in the legal system. In practice, this article has a profound impact on federal relations in India. It allows the Supreme Court to act as an arbitrator in disputes that could potentially disrupt the harmony between the center and the states. For example, if a state feels that the central government has overstepped its authority, it can directly approach the Supreme Court. This provision is a safeguard for the states and ensures that their rights are protected under the Constitution.

Historical Context

This means that the Supreme Court can hear certain cases first, without them being presented in any lower court. The disputes covered include those between the Government of India and one or more States, as well as disputes between different States. This jurisdiction is key for maintaining order and resolving conflicts between different levels of government in India. The article also sets boundaries for its jurisdiction. Article 131 of the Indian Constitution grants the Supreme Court original jurisdiction in specific disputes. Any disputes arising from treaties or agreements made before the Constitution came into effect are excluded. This ensures that existing legal arrangements are respected and not arbitrarily altered by the new Constitution.

Key Features

– The Supreme Court has original jurisdiction over specific disputes.
– It covers disputes between the Government of India and States.
– Disputes between States can also be addressed under this article.
– The jurisdiction excludes disputes from agreements made before 1950.
– This article ensures quick resolution of federal disputes.

Importance & Impact

– It helps maintain balance between the central and state governments.
– Disputes can be resolved quickly without lower courts’ involvement
– It protects states’ rights against potential overreach by the center.
– The Supreme Court acts as an ultimate authority in disputes.
– It promotes clarity in legal rights and obligations among states.

Sample UPSC Question

Consider the following statements about Article 131: 1. Article 131 gives the Supreme Court exclusive original jurisdiction in inter-state disputes. 2. All disputes between the Union and states, including treaty-related ones, fall under Article 131. 3. Article 131 jurisdiction requires the existence of a legal right, not merely a political controversy. 4. Two states can approach the Supreme Court under Article 131 to resolve their boundary dispute. Which statements are correct? a) 1 and 3 only b) 1, 3 and 4 only c) 2 and 4 only d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Answer

Answer: b) 1, 3 and 4 only Statement 1 is correct — Article 131 grants exclusive original jurisdiction. Statement 2 is wrong — Article 131 explicitly excludes treaty-based disputes. Statement 3 is correct — the Supreme Court has held that Article 131 covers legal rights, not political disputes (State of Rajasthan v. UOI, 1977). Statement 4 is correct — boundary disputes between states can be brought under Article 131.

Key Takeaways

✓ Article 131 allows the Supreme Court to hear specific disputes.
✓ It covers conflicts between the central and state governments.
✓ The article excludes certain disputes from treaties before 1950.
✓ This provision protects states’ rights against central overreach.
✓ It promotes efficient resolution of legal conflicts in federalism.

FAQs

Article 131 of the Indian Constitution grants the Supreme Court original jurisdiction in specific disputes. This means that the Supreme Court can hear certain cases first, without them being presented in any lower court. The disputes covered include those between the Government of India and one or more States, as well as disputes between different States.

This ensures that existing legal arrangements are respected and not arbitrarily altered by the new Constitution. The focus of Article 131 is on ensuring that conflicts over legal rights are resolved at the highest level, thereby preventing confusion and inefficiency in the legal system. In practice, this article has a profound impact on federal relations in India.

It allows the Supreme Court to act as an arbitrator in disputes that could potentially disrupt the harmony between the center and the states. For example, if a state feels that the central government has overstepped its authority, it can directly approach the Supreme Court. This provision is a safeguard for the states and ensures that their rights are protected under the Constitution.

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Pramod is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of StudyHub. He holds a Master's degree and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Geology, alongside more than 7+ years spent building and verifying competitive exam content for Indian aspirants. He leads StudyHub's editorial process across Indian Polity, the Constitution, Indian Economy, History, Geography, Science, and the platform's other subject areas — checking every article against primary sources (bare act text and Gazette notifications for constitutional topics, government and Economic Survey data for economy content, standard reference material elsewhere) and flagging it for re-verification whenever a relevant amendment, policy, or data update makes an earlier version outdated.
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