Inaugurated on January 28, 1950, the Supreme Court of India replaced the Federal Court of India established under the Government of India Act of 1935.

Visualizing the hierarchical structure of the unified Indian Judiciary, showcasing the flow of appeals from local magistrates to the Supreme Court.

• Composition: Currently, the Supreme Court consists of 34 judges (1 Chief Justice of India and 33 other judges). The strength is determined by Parliament.
• Qualifications: Must be an Indian citizen. Must have been a Judge of a High Court for at least 5 years, OR an advocate of a High Court for 10 years, OR a distinguished jurist in the opinion of the President.
• Retirement Age: A Supreme Court judge holds office until he attains the age of 65 years.
• Jurisdictions:
  • **Original Jurisdiction (Article 131):** Handles federal disputes (disputes between Centre and states, or between states).
  • **Writ Jurisdiction (Article 32):** Can issue writs to enforce Fundamental Rights.
  • **Advisory Jurisdiction (Article 143):** The President can refer questions of law or fact of public importance to the Supreme Court for its opinion (not binding on the President).
  • **Court of Record (Article 129):** All judgments and proceedings of the Supreme Court are recorded for perpetual memory and testimony, and it has the power to punish for contempt.

The High Court is the highest judicial organ at the state level (Articles 214-231).

• Count: Currently, there are 25 High Courts in India. The latest is the Andhra Pradesh High Court established in Amaravati in 2019.
• Appointment: High Court judges are appointed by the President in consultation with the CJI, the State Governor, and the Chief Justice of the concerned High Court.
• Retirement Age: A High Court judge holds office until he attains the age of 62 years.
• Writ Jurisdiction (Article 226): The High Court can issue writs for the enforcement of Fundamental Rights as well as other legal rights. *Thus, the High Court's writ jurisdiction is broader in scope than the Supreme Court's.*

Writs are command orders issued by the courts to protect the fundamental liberties of individuals:

• Habeas Corpus (To have the body of): Issued to a person who has detained another person, directing them to produce the body of the latter before the court. Safeguards individual liberty against arbitrary detention.
• Mandamus (We Command): Issued by the court to a public official, commanding him to perform his official duty which he has failed or refused to perform.
• Prohibition (To Forbid): Issued by a higher court to a lower court or tribunal to prevent it from exceeding its jurisdiction. Can be issued only against judicial and quasi-judicial authorities.
• Certiorari (To be Certified / Informed): Issued by a higher court to a lower court to transfer a case pending with the latter to itself or to quash its order. Issued on grounds of excess of jurisdiction or error of law.
• Quo Warranto (By what authority / warrant): Issued by the court to enquire into the legality of the claim of a person to a public office. Prevents illegal usurpation of a public office by a person.