Home The Constitution Part V Article 131

Art. 131 Part V: The Union

Original Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court

Exact text — Constitution of India

Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the Supreme Court shall, to the exclusion of any other court, have original jurisdiction in any dispute—(a) between the Government of India and one or more States; or (b) between the Government of India and any State or States on one side and one or more other States on the other; or (c) between two or more States, if and in so far as the dispute involves any question (whether of law or fact) on which the existence or extent of a legal right depends...

In Plain English

What this Article actually means

This Article gives the Supreme Court EXCLUSIVE original jurisdiction (meaning cases start there directly, not on appeal) over disputes between the Union and states, or between different states — reserving genuinely federal, inter-governmental legal disputes for the highest court's direct attention, rather than routing them through the ordinary trial court hierarchy.

Why This Matters To You

How it shows up in everyday life

This is the constitutional basis for major inter-state or Centre-state legal disputes (like boundary disputes or disagreements over legislative competence) going directly to the Supreme Court, bypassing the normal trial-and-appeal process entirely, given the significant federal stakes involved.

Read alongside this one

Art. 245 — Extent of Laws Made by Parliament and State Legislatures

Frequently Asked

Quick answers about Article 131

Can an ordinary citizen use this Article to bring a case directly to the Supreme Court?

No — this jurisdiction is specifically limited to disputes involving governments (Union and/or states) as parties, not individual citizens' claims, which have their own separate routes to the Supreme Court (like Article 32 for Fundamental Rights).

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The text above reproduces Article 131 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.