CONSTITUTION OF SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

CONSTITUTION OF SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

On the 28th of January, 1950, two days after India became a Sovereign Democratic Republic, the Supreme Court came into being. The inauguration took place in the Chamber of Princes in the Parliament building which also housed India's Parliament, consisting of the Council of States and the House of the People. It was here, in this Chamber of Princes, that the Federal Court of India had sat for 12 years between 1937 and 1950. This was to be the home of the Supreme Court for years that were to follow until the Supreme Court acquired its own present premises.

The inaugural proceedings were simple but impressive. They began at 9.45 a.m. when the Judges of the Federal Court - Chief Justice Harilal J.Kania and Justices Saiyid Fazl Ali, M. Patanjali Sastri, Mehr Chand Mahajan, Bijan Kumar Mukherjea and S.R.Das - took their seats. In attendance were the Chief Justices of the High Courts of Allahabad, Bombay, Madras, Orissa, Assam, Nagpur, Punjab, Saurashtra, Patiala and the East Punjab States Union, Mysore, Hyderabad, Madhya Bharat and Travancore-Cochin. Along with the Attorney General for India, M.C. Setalvad were present the Advocate Generals of Bombay, Madras, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, East Punjab, Orissa, Mysore, Hyderabad and Madhya Bharat. Present too, were Prime Minister, other Ministers, Ambassadors and diplomatic representatives of foreign States, a large number of Senior and other Advocates of the Court and other distinguished visitors.

Taking care to ensure that the Rules of the Supreme Court were published and the names of all the Advocates and agents of the Federal Court were brought on the rolls of the Supreme Court, the inaugural proceedings were over and put under part of the record of the Supreme Court.

After its inauguration on January 28, 1950, the Supreme Court commenced its sittings in a part of the Parliament House. The Court moved into the present building in 1958. The building is shaped to project the image of scales of justice. The Central Wing of the building is the Centre Beam of the Scales. In 1979, two New Wings - the East Wing and the West Wing - were added to the complex. In all there are 15 Court Rooms in the various wings of the building. The Chief Justice's Court is the largest of the Courts located in the Centre of the Central Wing.

The original Constitution of 1950 envisaged a Supreme Court with a Chief Justice and 7 puisne Judges - leaving it to Parliament to increase this number. In the early years, all the Judges of the Supreme Court sat together to hear the cases presented before them. As the work of the Court increased and arrears of cases began to cumulate, Parliament increased the number of Judges from 8 in 1950 to 11 in 1956, 14 in 1960, 18 in 1978 and 26 in 1986. As the number of the Judges has increased, they sit in smaller Benches of two and three - coming together in larger Benches of 5 and more only when required to do so or to settle a difference of opinion or controversy.

The Supreme Court of India comprises the Chief Justice and not more than 25 other Judges appointed by the President of India. Supreme Court Judges retire upon attaining the age of 65 years. In order to be appointed as a Judge of the Supreme Court, a person must be a citizen of India and must have been, for atleast five years, a Judge of a High Court or of two or more such Courts in succession, or an Advocate of a High Court or of two or more such Courts in succession for at least 10 years or he must be, in the opinion of the President, a distinguished jurist. Provisions exist for the appointment of a Judge of a High Court as an Ad-hoc Judge of the Supreme Court and for retired Judges of the Supreme Court or High Courts to sit and act as Judges of that Court.

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INDIAN JUDICIARY

INDIAN JUDICIARY

JURISDICTION OF THE SUPREME COURT 
The Supreme Court has original, appellate and advisory jurisdiction. Its exclusive original jurisdiction extends to any dispute between the Government of India and one or more States or between the Government of India and any State or States on one side and one or more States on the other or between two or more States, if and insofar as the dispute involves any question (whether of law or of fact) on which the existence or extent of a legal right depends. In addition, Article 32 of the Constitution gives an extensive original jurisdiction to the Supreme Court in regard to enforcement of Fundamental Rights. It is empowered to issue directions, orders or writs, including writs in the nature of habeas corpus, mandamus, prohibition, quo warranto and certiorari to enforce them. The Supreme Court has been conferred with power to direct transfer of any civil or criminal case from one State High Court to another State High Court or from a Court subordinate to another State High Court. The Supreme Court, if satisfied that cases involving the same or substantially the same questions of law are pending before it and one or more High Courts or before two or more High Courts and that such questions are substantial questions of general importance, may withdraw a case or cases pending before the High Court or High Courts and dispose of all such cases itself. Under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, International Commercial Arbitration can also be initiated in the Supreme Court. 

The appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court can be invoked by a certificate granted by the High Court concerned under Article 132(1), 133(1) or 134 of the Constitution in respect of any judgement, decree or final order of a High Court in both civil and criminal cases, involving substantial questions of law as to the interpretation of the Constitution. Appeals also lie to the Supreme Court in civil matters if the High Court concerned certifies : (a) that the case involves a substantial question of law of general importance, and (b) that, in the opinion of the High Court, the said question needs to be decided by the Supreme Court. In criminal cases, an appeal lies to the Supreme Court if the High Court (a) has on appeal reversed an order of acquittal of an accused person and sentenced him to death or to imprisonment for life or for a period of not less than 10 years, or (b) has withdrawn for trial before itself any case from any Court subordinate to its authority and has in such trial convicted the accused and sentenced him to death or to imprisonment for life or for a period of not less than 10 years, or (c) certified that the case is a fit one for appeal to the Supreme Court. Parliament is authorised to confer on the Supreme Court any further powers to entertain and hear appeals from any judgement, final order or sentence in a criminal proceeding of a High Court.

The Supreme Court has also a very wide appellate jurisdiction over all Courts and Tribunals in India in as much as it may, in its discretion, grant special leave to appeal under Article 136 of the Constitution from any judgment, decree, determination, sentence or order in any cause or matter passed or made by any Court or Tribunal in the territory of India.

The Supreme Court has special advisory jurisdiction in matters which may specifically be referred to it by the President of India under Article 143 of the Constitution. There are provisions for reference or appeal to this Court under Article 317(1) of the Constitution, Section 257 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, Section 7(2) of the Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Act, 1969, Section 130-A of the Customs Act, 1962, Section 35-H of the Central Excises and Salt Act, 1944 and Section 82C of the Gold (Control) Act, 1968. Appeals also lie to the Supreme Court under the Representation of the People Act, 1951, Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Act, 1969, Advocates Act, 1961, Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, Customs Act, 1962, Central Excises and Salt Act, 1944, Enlargement of Criminal Appellate Jurisdiction Act, 1970, Trial of Offences Relating to Transactions in Securities Act, 1992, Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, 1987 and Consumer Protection Act, 1986. Election Petitions under Part III of the Presidential and Vice Presidential Elections Act, 1952 are also filed directly in the Supreme Court.

Under Articles 129 and 142 of the Constitution the Supreme Court has been vested with power to punish for contempt of Court including the power to punish for contempt of itself. In case of contempt other than the contempt referred to in Rule 2, Part-I of the Rules to Regulate Proceedings for Contempt of the Supreme Court, 1975, the Court may take action (a) Suo motu, or (b) on a petition made by Attorney General, or Solicitor General, or (c) on a petition made by any person, and in the case of a criminal contempt with the consent in writing of the Attorney General or the Solicitor General.

Under Order XL of the Supreme Court Rules the Supreme Court may review its judgment or order but no application for review is to be entertained in a civil proceeding except on the grounds mentioned in Order XLVII, Rule 1 of the Code of Civil Procedure and in a criminal proceeding except on the ground of an error apparent on the face of the record.

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Copyright Act 1957

Copyright Act 1957

2.Interpretation:- In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,-
(a) "adapatation" means,-
( i ) in relation to a dramatic work, the conversion of the work into a non-dramatic work;
( ii ) in relation to a literary work or an artistic work, the conversion of the work into a dramatic work by way of performance in public or otherwise;
( iii ) in relation to a literary or dramatic work, any abridgement of the work or any version of the work in which the story or action is conveyed wholly or mainly by means of pictures in a form suitable for reproduction in a book, or in a newspaper, magazine or similar per` iodical; and
( iv ) in relation to a musical work, any arrangement or transcription of the work;
(b) "architectural work of art" means any building or structure having an artistic character or design, or any model for such building or structure;
(c) "artistic work" means---
( i ) a painting, a sculpture, a drawing (including a diagram, map, chart or plan), an engraving or a photograph, whether or not any such work possesses artistic quality;
(ii) an architectural work of art; and
( iii ) any other work of artistic craftsmanship;
(d) "author" means,-
( i ) in relation to literary or dramatic work, the author of the work;
( ii ) in relation to a musical work, the composer;
( iii ) in relation to an artistic work other than a photograph, the artist;
( iv ) in relation to a photograph, the person taking the photograph;
( v ) in relation to a cinematograph film, the owner of the film at the time of its completion; and
( vi ) in relation to a record, the owner of the original plate from which the record is made, at the time of the making of the plate;
(e) "calendar year" means the year commencing on the 1st day of January;
(f) "cinematograph film" includes the sound track, if any, and "cinematograph" shall be construed as including any work produced by any mechanical instrument or by radio-diffusion

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THE UNIVERSITY GRANTS COMMISSION ACT, 1956

THE

UNIVERSITY GRANTS COMMISSION

ACT, 1956

An Act to make provision for the co-ordination and determination of

standards in Universities and for that purpose, to establish a

University Grants Commission.

BE it enacted by Parliament in the Seventh Year of the Republic of India

as follows:-

CHAPTER I

PRELIMINARY

1. (1) This Act may be called the University Grants

Comission Act, 1956.

(2) It shall come into force on such date1 as the

Central Government may, by notification in the

Official Gazette, appoint.

2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires-

(a) “Commission” means the University Grants

Commission established under section 4;

(b) “executive authority” in relation to a University,

means the chief executive authority of the

University (by whatever name called) in which

the general administration of the University is

vested;

(c) “Fund” means the Fund of the University Grants

Commission constituted under section 16;

(d) “member’ means a member of the University

Grants Commission and includes the Chairman2

(and Vice-Chairman];

(e) “prescribed’ means prescribed by rules made

under this Act;

Short title and

commencement

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210th Report on Humanisation and Decriminalisation of Attempt to Suicide

210th Report on Humanisation and Decriminalisation of Attempt to Suicide

Dear Dr. Bhardwaj ji,

Sub: Humanization and Decriminalization of Attempt to Suicide.


I have great pleasure in submitting herewith the 210th Report of
the Law Commission of India on the above subject.
In our country, attempt to suicide is an offence punishable
under section 309 of the Indian Penal Code. Section 309 reads thus:
Attempt to commit suicide. “Whoever attempts to commit
suicide and does any act towards the commission of such
offence, shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term
which may extend to one year or with fine, or with both.”
Article 21 of the Constitution of India enjoins that no person
shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to
procedure established by law.
A Division Bench of the Supreme Court in P. Rathinam v.
Union of India (AIR 1994 SC 1844) held that the right to live of
which Article 21 speaks of can be said to bring in its trail the right not
to live a forced life, and therefore, section 309 violates Article 21.
This decision was, however, subsequently overruled in Gian Kaur v.
State of Punjab (AIR 1996 SC 946) by a Constitution Bench of the
Supreme Court, holding that Article 21 cannot be construed to include
within it the ‘right to die’ as a part of the fundamental right
guaranteed therein, and therefore, it cannot be said that section 309 is
violative of Article 21.
The Law Commission had undertaken revision of the Indian
Penal Code as part of its function of revising Central Acts of general
application and importance. In its 42nd Report submitted in 1971, the
6
Commission recommended, inter alia, repeal of section 309. The
Indian Penal Code (Amendment) Bill, 1978, as passed by the Rajya
Sabha, accordingly provided for omission of section 309.
Unfortunately, before it could be passed by the Lok Sabha, the Lok
Sabha was dissolved and the Bill lapsed. The Commission submitted
its 156th Report in 1997 after the pronouncement of the judgement in
Gian Kaur, recommending retention of section 309.


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THE CODE OF CIVIL PROCEDURE, 1908

THE CODE OF CIVIL PROCEDURE, 1908

An Act to consolidate and amend the laws relating to the procedure of the Courts of Civil Judicature.
WHEREAS it is expedient to consolidate and amend the laws relating to the procedure of the Courts of Civil Judicature; it is hereby enacted as follows:-

PRELIMINARY

1. Short title, commencement and extent- (1) This Act may be cited as the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908.
(2) It shall come into force on the first day of January, 1909.
[2][(3) It extends to the whole of India except-
(a) the State of Jammu and Kashmir;
(b) the State of Nagaland and the tribal areas :
Provided that the State Government concerned may, by notification in the Official Gazette, extend the provisions of this Code or any of them to the whole or part of the State of Nagaland or such tribal areas, as the case may be, with such supplemental, incidental or consequential modifications as may be specified in the notification.
Explanation-In this clause, "tribal areas" means the territories which, immediately before the 21st day of January, 1972 were included in the tribal areas of Assam as referred to in paragraph 20 of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution.
(4) In relation to the Amindivi Islands, and the East Godavari, West Godavari and Visakhapatnam Agencies in the State of Andhra Pradesh and the Union territory of Lakshadweep, the application of this Code shall be without prejudice to the application of any rule or regulation for the time being in force in such Islands, Agencies or such Union territory, as the case may be, relating to the application of this Code.]



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THE ADVOCATES ACT,1961

THE ADVOCATES ACT,1961

STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS
The Bill seeks to implement the recommendations of the All India Bar Committee made in 1953, after taking into account the recommendations of the Law Commission on the subject of Reform of Judicial Administration in so far as the recommendations relate to the Bar and to legal education.
The main features of the Bill are, -
(1) The establishment of an All India Bar Council and a common roll of advocates, and advocate on the common roll having a right to practice in any part of the country and in any Court, including the Supreme Court;
2. The integration of the bar into a single class of legal practitioners know as advocates;
3. The prescription of a uniform qualification for the admission of persons to be advocates;
4. The division of advocates into senior advocates and other advocates based on merit;
5. The creation of autonomous Bar Councils, one for the whole of India and on for each State.
Following the recommendations of the All India Bar Committee and the Law Commission, the Bill recognised the continued existence of the system known as the dual system now prevailing in the High Court of Calcutta and Bombay, by making suitable provisions in that behalf: It would, however, be open to t he two High Courts, if they so desire, to discontinue this system at any time.

THE ADVOCATES ACT,1961