The judiciary in India

The judiciary in India is an independent and integrated system responsible for interpreting and upholding the laws of the land. The structure of the judiciary in India is hierarchical and comprises various levels. The key components of the judiciary in India are:

1. Supreme Court of India:

   • The Supreme Court is the highest judicial authority in the country.
   • It is located in New Delhi and has original, appellate, and advisory jurisdiction.
   • The Chief Justice of India is the head of the Supreme Court.

2. High Courts:

   • Each state in India has a High Court, which serves as the highest court within the state's jurisdiction.
   • High Courts have original, appellate, and advisory jurisdiction within their respective states.

3. Subordinate Courts:

   • Below the High Courts, there are subordinate courts at the district level.
   • District and Sessions Courts: These handle both civil and criminal cases at the district level.
   • Magistrate Courts: These deal with less serious offenses and conduct preliminary hearings.

4. Specialized Courts:

   • Apart from the regular hierarchy, there are specialized courts to deal with specific types of cases.
   • Family Courts: Handle matters related to family and domestic issues.
   • Labour Courts and Industrial Tribunals: Deal with matters related to labor and industrial disputes.
   • Tribunals: These are set up for various purposes such as income tax, customs, administrative disputes, etc.

5. Supreme Court and High Court Benches:

   • The Supreme Court can establish benches in different parts of the country, and High Courts may have benches in specific regions.
   • These benches ensure wider accessibility to justice.

6. Judicial Appointment System:

   • Judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts are appointed by the President of India.
   • The Chief Justice of India and the Chief Justices of High Courts are appointed based on seniority and consultation with other judges.

7. Independence of the Judiciary:

   • The judiciary in India is designed to be independent to ensure fairness and impartiality.
   • Judges have security of tenure, and their removal is a complex process to prevent political interference.

8. Advisory Role:

   • The judiciary has an advisory role, and the President of India can seek its opinion on legal matters.

9. Constitutional Provisions:

   • The Constitution of India, particularly Articles 124-147, deals with the organization, independence, and jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, and Articles 214-231 cover similar aspects for High Courts.

The structure and functioning of the judiciary in India are aimed at providing justice, upholding the rule of law, and safeguarding the fundamental rights of citizens.