Home The Constitution Part V Article 140

Art. 140 Part V: The Union

Ancillary Powers of the Supreme Court

Exact text — Constitution of India

Parliament may by law make provision for conferring upon the Supreme Court such supplemental powers not inconsistent with any of the provisions of this Constitution as may appear to be necessary or desirable for the purpose of enabling the Court more effectively to exercise the jurisdiction conferred upon it by or under this Constitution.

In Plain English

What this Article actually means

This Article gives Parliament power to grant the Supreme Court additional 'ancillary' powers specifically to help it more effectively exercise the jurisdiction it already has under other constitutional provisions — essentially procedural or supplementary tools rather than entirely new substantive jurisdiction.

Why This Matters To You

How it shows up in everyday life

This is a supporting, enabling Article rather than one with dramatic independent significance — it provides flexibility for Parliament to fine-tune the Court's practical operational capacity as needed.

Read alongside this one

Art. 138 — Enlargement of the Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court

Frequently Asked

Quick answers about Article 140

How is this different from Article 138's jurisdiction-enlargement power?

Article 138 lets Parliament grant genuinely NEW jurisdiction; this Article is narrower — it's about supplemental POWERS that help the Court more effectively exercise jurisdiction it already possesses.

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The text above reproduces Article 140 of the Constitution of India as amended to date, for general educational reference. It is public-domain legislative text, but we recommend cross-checking the authoritative version at legislative.gov.in or india.gov.in before relying on it for a legal matter. The explanation, examples and FAQs are general information, not legal advice — consult a qualified advocate for guidance on your specific situation.