This article presents 10 Interesting Facts About the Supreme Court. Indian Constitution provides for the establishment of the Supreme Court of India, which is also known as the Apex Court, the highest constitutional court as well as the final court of appeal. It has been granted with a wide range of powers in terms of original, advisory and… Read More »

This article presents 10 Interesting Facts About the Supreme Court. Indian Constitution provides for the establishment of the Supreme Court of India, which is also known as the Apex Court, the highest constitutional court as well as the final court of appeal. It has been granted with a wide range of powers in terms of original, advisory and appellate jurisdictions.

Here’ 10 Interesting Facts About Supreme Court:

1.On 28 January 1950, the Supreme Court of India superseded the Federal Court of India which was set up by the Government of India Act 1935 and the Privy Council, which was the most noteworthy legal body in the nation during the British period.

2. The inauguration ceremony of Supreme Court of India took place in the Chamber of Princes in the premises of Parliament. The Chamber of Princes was utilized as the seat of the Judicature of India for a period of 12 years i.e. from 1937-1950 and later in 1958, the Supreme Court was shifted to its current building.

3. In its initial years, the highest court used to sit from 10 am to 12 and afterwards from 2 pm to 4 pm for only 28 days in a year. However, today, it meets for 190 days a year.

4. The building block of the Supreme Court was laid down on 29 October 1954 by Dr Rajendra Prasad, the first President of India. The Apex Court covers 17 acres of a triangular plot land in Hardinge Avenue and structured in an Indo-British building style by the architecture Ganesh Bhikaji Deolalikar, who was the first Indian head of CPWD.

Interestingly, the structure of the Supreme Court (SC) is planned and formed so that it portrays justice. Rajendra Prasad expressed that the two dishes of the balances of justice must be held uniformly. The Chief Justice’s Court and two huge courtrooms on either side in the Central Wing of the SC epitomize the balances of justice.

5. Another astonishing fact is that the artist Chintamani Kar had worked on a black bronze sculpture with a height of 120 cms, which was etched in the Court’s lawn premises of SC a dark bronze figure was etched on 20 Feb 1980.

This statue represents a woman providing house to her child, who is grasping an open book. The statue depicts Mother India as the woman, who is protecting the young Indian Republic and the book portrays the laws of the land and the parity appeared on the book speaks of equal justice which is to be ensured to all.

6. Anna Chandy was the first woman judge of India. She had joined Law School in 1927 and Bar in 1929. Later, she was appointed as the first Grade Zila Munsif in 1937 and the first-ever District Judge in 1948. Further, she was the second lady to be appointed as a judge of the Kerala High Court in 1959.

The first lady judge of not only the Apex Court of India but also in Asia was Ms Fathima Beevi. She became Supreme Court judge in 1959.

7. The Apex Court of India comprises of With a huge backlog of cases in the top court, the government had recently(2019) increased the strength of its judges from 31 to 34, including the Chief Justice of India.

The interesting fact is that originally, there were only 8 judges and it was upon the Parliament to expand the number of judges as to when required. It became 11 in 1960, 14 in 1968, 18 in 1978, 26 in 1986 and 31 in 2009.

8. The design of the seal of the Court is taken from the wheel has 24 spokes, which can be seen on the Sarnath Lion capital built by Ashoka.

9. According to article 124(2), President of India appoints Supreme Court Judges and High Court Judges only after consulting Supreme court justices and High Court justices respectively. President appointed judges of Supreme Court on the proposal of CJI till 1993.

Nowadays, a committee of 5 senior-most judges prescribes the names to the Ministry of Law and Justice, which in turn forwards the names to President after investigating. After that, it is the discretion of the President to decide upon the names prescribed or to send them back to SC for reconsideration. However, if SC prescribes the same name even after reconsideration, then-President has to appoint that person as the judge.

10. Supreme Court judge can be removed by President only on the basis of incapacity or misbehaviour and the Parliament is provided with the duty of investigating into the matter. A resolution supported by 2/3rd of the members present and voting and majority of the total membership of house is to be passed in Parliament for removal of a judge.


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Updated On 16 March 2020 7:44 AM GMT
Akriti Gupta

Akriti Gupta

Akriti Gupta is a student at Symbiosis Law School, NOIDA. She is a research enthusiast and possesses capable draftsmanship along with this, Akriti is a holder of various renounced publications and participated in prestigious national moots.

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