Constitution Section 131 — Original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court

Part V — THE UNION — CHAPTER IV.—THE UNION JUDICIARY

Constitutional

Summary

The Supreme Court is the only court that can hear certain types of disputes between the national government and one or more state governments, or between two or more state governments. This applies only when the dispute is about a legal right—whether the question is about law or facts. However, this power does not apply to disputes that come from certain old agreements or treaties made before the Constitution started, if those agreements are still in effect or say that the Supreme Court cannot hear such disputes.

Official Text

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:Provided that the said jurisdiction shall not extend to a dispute arising out of any treaty, agreement, covenant, engagement, sanad or other similar instrument which, having been entered into or executed before the commencement of this Constitution, continues in operation after such commencement, or which provides that the said jurisdiction shall not extend to such a dispute.