Q. Article 131 of Indian Constitution is often seen in news is related to which of the following?

[A] Original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.

[B] Appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court in appeals from High Courts in civil matters.

[C] Appellate jurisdiction of the high court in appeals from district Courts in criminal matters.

[D] Jurisdiction and powers of the federal court under existing law to be exercisable by the Supreme Court.

Answer: A
Notes:

Amid nationwide protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, or CAA, 2019, and the threat of non-cooperation by some States with the Central government’s plan to update the National Population Register (NPR) and possibly establish a National Register of Indian Citizens, Kerala has filed a suit in the Supreme Court of India seeking to declare the CAA as unconstitutional.  

  • Meanwhile, Chhattisgarh has also filed a similar suit, challenging the constitutional validity of the National Investigation Agency Act.  
  • Both have invoked Article 131, which confers exclusive jurisdiction on the top court to adjudicate disputes between two or more States, or between States and the Centre. 
  • Article 131 confers exclusive jurisdiction on the Supreme Court in disputes involving States, or the Centre on the one hand and one or more States on the other. This means no other court can entertain such a dispute.  
  • It is well-known that both High Courts and the Supreme Court have the power to adjudicate cases against the State and Central governments.  
  • In particular, the validity of any executive or legislative action is normally challenged by way of writ petitions — under Article 226 of the Constitution in respect of High Courts, and, in respect to fundamental rights violations, under Article 32 in the Supreme Court. 

Source: Laxmikanth 

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