Constitution Section 143 — Power of the President to consult the Supreme Court

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

Constitutional

Summary

The President can ask the Supreme Court for its opinion on a question of law or fact that is important to the public. The President may also ask the Supreme Court for its opinion on certain disputes that would normally be outside the Court’s regular authority. In both cases, the Supreme Court will hold hearings as it sees fit and then give its opinion to the President.

Official Text

(1) If at any time it appears to the President that a question of law or fact has arisen, or is likely to arise, which is of such a nature and of such public importance that it is expedient to obtain the opinion of the Supreme Court upon it, he may refer the question to that Court for consideration and the Court may, after such hearing as it thinks fit, report to the President its opinion thereon.

(2) The President may, notwithstanding anything in the proviso to article 131, refer a dispute of the kind mentioned in the said proviso to the Supreme Court for opinion and the Supreme Court shall, after such hearing as it thinks fit, report to the President its opinion thereon.