Which of the following are included in the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court?
- 1.A dispute between the Government of India and one or more States.
- 2.A dispute regarding elections to either House of the Parliament or that of Legislature of a State.
- 3.A dispute between the Government of India and a Union Territory.
- 4.A dispute between two or more States.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
Answer & explanation
Answer: (c) 1 and 4
Article 131 gives the Supreme Court exclusive original jurisdiction over legal disputes between the Centre and one or more States, and between two or more States. So statements 1 and 4 are correct. Election petitions for Parliament and State Legislatures are tried by the High Court. A Union Territory is not a 'State' under Article 131.
- ✓ 1. A dispute between the Government of India and one or more States is the first category under Article 131. Such a dispute is filed directly in the Supreme Court.
- ✗ 2. Election petitions about Parliament or State Legislature seats are tried by the High Court under Section 80A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. The Supreme Court hears only appeals from those decisions.
- ✗ 3. Article 131 covers disputes involving 'States'. A Union Territory is not a State, so a Centre–UT dispute is not within this original jurisdiction.
- ✓ 4. A dispute between two or more States is expressly listed in Article 131, so it falls directly under the Supreme Court's exclusive original jurisdiction.
Remember · Article 131: the Supreme Court alone hears Centre–State and inter-State legal disputes. Election petitions for Parliament and State Legislatures go to the High Court, and Union Territories are not covered.
📘 Read it in NCERT: Class 8 Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part 2), Ch 4 (practise this chapter)
Sources
- NCERT Class 8 · Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part 2), Chapter 4 “The Supreme Court has exclusive original jurisdiction (Article 131) to decide legal disputes arising between: (a) The Centre and a State;”
- The Representation of the People Act, 1951, Part VI (Chief Electoral Officer, Kerala, official copy) ↗ “80A. High Court to try election petitions.—(1) The Court having jurisdiction to try an election petition shall be the High Court.”
Question: UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) 2012, General Studies Paper I. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 25 Oct 2026 (how we verify). ·
