Supreme Court of India

The Supreme Court of India serves as the nation's highest judicial authority and the final interpreter of the Constitution. It exercises original jurisdiction in disputes between the Government of India and one or more states, or between states, and appellate jurisdiction over judgments and orders of lower courts and tribunals. Through its advisory jurisdiction, the President may refer questions of law or fact of public importance for the Court's opinion. The Court's power of judicial review enables it to invalidate legislation, executive orders or administrative actions that contravene constitutional provisions. It safeguards fundamental rights by entertaining writ petitions under Articles 32 and 226, allowing individuals to seek remedies for violations. The Court's judgments are binding on all courts within the territory of India and serve as precedents that shape legal principles and public policy. It also possesses the authority to transfer cases from one High Court to another or to itself to ensure ends of justice. The Supreme Court has been instrumental in expanding the scope of public interest litigation, enabling broader access to justice for marginalized groups. Its decisions are compiled in the Supreme Court Reports, which constitute an authoritative source of Indian case law. The Court maintains a well‑stocked library and research facilities that support judicial scholarship and law‑reform initiatives.

The Supreme Court is located in New Delhi, the capital of India, and functions as an independent constitutional body separate from the executive and legislature. It comprises the Chief Justice of India and a number of other judges appointed by the President after consultation with the judiciary, as stipulated by Articles 124‑147 of the Constitution. Judges hold office until they attain the age of sixty‑five, subject to removal only through impeachment by Parliament. The Court's workload is distributed among various benches, including Constitution Benches for substantial constitutional questions and Division Benches for regular appeals. Administrative and financial support for the Court is provided by the Government of India through the Ministry of Law and Justice, while the judiciary retains operational independence. The Court's Registry manages case filings, record‑keeping and the dissemination of judgments, ensuring the smooth functioning of judicial processes. In recent years, the Supreme Court has embraced digital initiatives such as the e‑Court project, which facilitates electronic filing, case tracking and virtual hearings. The institution's website, which was defaced on 19 April 2018 by the group HighTech Brazil Hackteam displaying a Portuguese message and a marijuana leaf image, was promptly taken offline and restored after intervention by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. That incident underscored the need for strengthened cybersecurity measures across government portals, prompting ongoing audits and protocol upgrades. Despite such challenges, the Supreme Court continues to fulfill its role as the guardian of the Constitution, the arbiter of legal disputes and a cornerstone of India's democratic framework.