Ancillary powers of Supreme Court
Quick Summary (TL;DR)
Article 140 (Ancillary powers of Supreme Court): Defines the jurisdiction, judicial independence, and appellate powers of the Supreme Court of India.
In Simple Citizen Words
Article 140 ('Ancillary powers of Supreme Court') belongs to Part V, Chapter IV (The Union Judiciary). It defines the institutional architecture and jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of India—covering judicial appointments, salaries, Court of Record status (contempt power), original federal disputes (Art 131), constitutional/civil/criminal appeals (Arts 132–136), review of judgments (Art 137), or binding precedents (Art 141). Specifically: Parliament may by law make provision for conferring upon the Supreme Court such supplemental powers not inconsistent with any of the provisions of this Constitution as may appear to be necessary or desirable for the purpose of enabling the...
Key Constitutional Provisions
Constitutional Mandate (Art. 140): Directly codifies the legal rule for 'Ancillary powers of Supreme Court' under Part V
Sets a direct, self-contained constitutional command binding on public authorities across India
Backed by independent judicial oversight of the Supreme Court to protect constitutional legality
Exceptions & Reasonable Restrictions
Supreme Court powers are exercised by independent Benches according to constitutional rules and judicial discipline, insulated from political interference.
Why This Matters in Daily Life
Makes the Supreme Court the ultimate guardian of the Constitution and the final court of appeal for every citizen seeking justice.
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