Home The Constitution Part V Article 130

Art. 130 Part V: The Union

Seat of Supreme Court

Exact text — Constitution of India

The Supreme Court shall sit in Delhi or in such other place or places, as the Chief Justice of India may, with the approval of the President, from time to time, appoint.

In Plain English

What this Article actually means

This Article establishes Delhi as the Supreme Court's default seat, while giving the Chief Justice (with the President's approval) flexibility to hold sittings elsewhere if desired — though in practice, the Supreme Court has continued to sit exclusively in Delhi throughout its history.

Why This Matters To You

How it shows up in everyday life

This is relevant to the periodically-raised policy debate about establishing Supreme Court 'circuit benches' in other parts of India, to improve access to justice for litigants far from Delhi — this Article provides the constitutional flexibility for such an arrangement, even though it hasn't been implemented.

Read alongside this one

Art. 216 — Constitution of High Courts

Frequently Asked

Quick answers about Article 130

Has the Supreme Court ever actually sat somewhere other than Delhi?

No — despite this Article's flexibility and periodic policy debate about regional benches, the Supreme Court has continued to sit exclusively in Delhi throughout its history.

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The text above reproduces Article 130 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.