Indian Judiciary Lecture Notes Flashcards

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering key terms, constitutional articles, landmark cases, and legal structures from Indian Polity lecture notes.

First Judges Case (1982)

A Supreme Court decision establishing that the word 'consultation' in judicial appointments does NOT mean concurrence.

Second Judges Case (1993)

A Supreme Court ruling establishing that 'consultation' DOES mean concurrence in the appointment of judges, curtailing executive discretion.

Third Judges Case (1998)

A ruling establishing that the consultation process requires the Chief Justice of India to consult a collegium of four senior-most Supreme Court judges.

99th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2014

An amendment enacted to establish the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC), which was subsequently struck down by the Supreme Court in 2015 to restore the Collegium system.

Judges Enquiry Act (1968)

An Act prescribing the removal procedure for judges, requiring a motion signed by 100 Lok Sabha or 50 Rajya Sabha members and investigation by a three-member committee.

Adhoc Judge (Supreme Court)

A High Court judge temporarily appointed by the Chief Justice of India to attend Supreme Court sittings when there is a lack of quorum.

Original Jurisdiction (Supreme Court)

The exclusive authority of the Supreme Court to hear federal disputes arising between the Centre and one or more states, or between two or more states.

Advisory Jurisdiction (Article 143)

A constitutional power enabling the President to seek the opinion of the Supreme Court on questions of public importance or pre-constitutional treaties.

Special Leave Petition (Article 136)

A discretionary constitutional provision empowering the Supreme Court to grant special leave to appeal against any judgment or order from any court or tribunal in India, except military tribunals.

7th Constitutional Amendment Act

A constitutional amendment that enabled the establishment of a common High Court for two or more states or Union Territories.

Part XIV-A (Tribunals)

A constitutional section added by the 42nd Amendment Act in 1976 comprising Articles 323A and 323B for administrative and other tribunals.

Gram Nyayalayas Act, 2008

Statute creating mobile courts at intermediate Panchayat headquarters, deemed as Courts of Judicial Magistrate First Class, guided by Principles of Natural Justice rather than the Indian Evidence Act, 1872.

Nyayadhikari

The presiding officer of a Gram Nyayalaya, appointed by the State Government in consultation with the High Court.

Lok Adalat

A statutory alternative dispute resolution forum under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 that settles pending or pre-litigation compoundable disputes with binding decisions and no appeal.

Polluter Pays Principle

An environmental principle holding polluters absolutely liable for environmental damages, established in cases like M.C. Mehta (Oleum Gas) and Enviro-Legal Action.

Precautionary Principle

An environmental rule placing the burden of proof on industries to demonstrate non-harm, applied in cases such as Vellore Citizens' Forum and Narmada Bachao Andolan.

Public Trust Doctrine

A legal doctrine stating that the State acts as a trustee of natural resources for the public, established in M.C. Mehta v. Kamal Nath.

M.K. RanjitSinh Case (2024)

A Supreme Court judgment affirming the right to be free from the adverse impacts of climate change under Article 21's Right to Life.

Judicial Appointments Commission (UK-JAC)

An independent 15-member statutory body (including 3 judges and 12 members chosen via open competition) created under the Constitutional Reform Act 2005 to oversee judge appointments in the UK.

Indian Judicial Hierarchy Structure

An integrated four-level judicial structure comprising the Supreme Court of India at the top, followed by High Courts, District Courts, and Subordinate Courts.

Key Environmental Principles Diagram

A visual mapping of landmark legal doctrines and case precedents forming Indian environmental jurisprudence, including Polluter Pays, Precautionary Principle, Sustainable Development, and Public Trust Doctrine.