Home The Constitution Part V Article 134

Art. 134 Part V: The Union

Appellate Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court in Regard to Criminal Matters

Exact text — Constitution of India

(1) An appeal shall lie to the Supreme Court from any judgment, final order or sentence in a criminal proceeding of a High Court... if the High Court—(a) has on appeal reversed an order of acquittal of an accused person and sentenced him to death; or (b) has withdrawn for trial before itself any case from any court subordinate to its authority and has in such trial convicted the accused person and sentenced him to death; or (c) certifies... that the case is a fit one for appeal to the Supreme Court...

In Plain English

What this Article actually means

This Article provides specific criminal-appeal routes to the Supreme Court — automatically, where a High Court has REVERSED an acquittal into a death sentence, or convicted and death-sentenced someone in a case it withdrew for its own trial (reflecting the extreme gravity of a death sentence), or more generally where the High Court itself certifies the case fit for a further Supreme Court appeal.

Why This Matters To You

How it shows up in everyday life

This is why death penalty cases in particular have a specific, near-automatic pathway to Supreme Court review when a High Court has reversed an acquittal into a capital sentence — reflecting the irreversible finality of capital punishment demanding the highest possible level of judicial scrutiny.

Read alongside this one

Art. 134a — Certificate for Appeal to the Supreme Court

Frequently Asked

Quick answers about Article 134

Does every criminal conviction get an automatic right of appeal to the Supreme Court?

No — only the specific situations this Article lists (particularly death-sentence reversals of acquittals) provide a near-automatic route; other criminal appeals generally need either the High Court's certification or the Supreme Court's own special leave under Article 136.

← PreviousArticle 133: Appellate Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court in Appeals From High Courts in Regard to Civil Matters Next →Article 134A: Certificate for Appeal to the Supreme Court

The text above reproduces Article 134 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.