The Supreme Court

The Supreme Court in India was inaugurated on 28 January, 1950.

The Supreme Court of India was inaugurated on 28th Jan- uary, 1950. It succeeded the Federal court of India estab- lished under the Government of India Act, 1935.

Article 124 of the Constitution provides for the formation of the Supreme Court. The power to increase the number of Judges in the Supreme Court of India is vested in the Parliament.

The Supreme Court of India was established according to Part V, Chapter IV, Article 124 of the Constitution of India and is the highest judicial forum and the final Court of Appeal. Establishment of the Supreme Court of India, its composition and jurisdiction have been laid down in Articles 124 to 147 of the Indian Constitution. Initially, during the 1950s the Supreme Court consisted of a Chief Justice and seven Judges. In 1956, the number rose to eleven, rising to fourteen, eighteen, twenty-six and thirty-one including the Chief Justice in 1960, 1978, 1986 and 2008 respectively. It is noteworthy that the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Act, 2019 has increased the number of judges in the Supreme Court from 31 (30+1) to 34 (33+1). Currently there are a total 34 judges in the Supreme Court including the Chief Justice.

The Supreme Court of India has been established under Article 124 of the Constitution of India. The number of Judges is also mentioned in Article 124. The original constitution of 1950 envisaged a Supreme Court with a Chief Justice and 7 Puisne Judges-leaving it to parliament to increase this number. In the early years, all the Judges of the Supreme Court sat together to hear the cases presented before them. As the work of the court increased and arrears of cases began to accumulate, parliament increased the number of Judges from 8 in 1950 to 11 in 1956, 14 in 1960, 18 in 1978 and 26 (including Chief Justice) in 1986. By the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Act, 2009 number of Judges increased from 26 to 31 (including Chief Justice). It is noteworthy that the number of Judges has been increased from 31 to 34 (including Chief Justice) by The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Act, 2019.

The Supreme Court of India has been established under Article 124 of the Constitution of India. The number of Judges is also mentioned in Article 124. The original constitution of 1950 envisaged a Supreme Court with a Chief Justice and 7 Puisne Judges-leaving it to parliament to increase this number. In the early years, all the Judges of the Supreme Court sat together to hear the cases presented before them. As the work of the court increased and arrears of cases began to accumulate, parliament increased the number of Judges from 8 in 1950 to 11 in 1956, 14 in 1960, 18 in 1978 and 26 (including Chief Justice) in 1986. By the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Act, 2009 number of Judges increased from 26 to 31 (including Chief Justice). It is noteworthy that the number of Judges has been increased from 31 to 34 (including Chief Justice) by The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Act, 2019.

Article 124 of the Indian Constitution deals with the establishment and Constitution of Supreme Court. Article 124 (3) of the Constitution prescribes that for appointment as a Judge of the Supreme Court a person must be

(a) a citizen of India, and

(b) has been a Judge of any High Court for at least 5 years, or

(c) has been an advocate in a High Court for 10 years or is in the opinion of the President, a distinguished Jurist.

Article 124 of the Indian Constitution deals with the establishment and Constitution of Supreme Court. Article 124 (3) of the Constitution prescribes that for appointment as a Judge of the Supreme Court a person must be

(a) a citizen of India, and

(b) has been a Judge of any High Court for at least 5 years, or

(c) has been an advocate in a High Court for 10 years or is in the opinion of the President, a distinguished Jurist.

According to Article 124 (2) (a) of the Indian Constitution, a Judge may, by writing under his hand addressed to the President, resign his office. Every Judge of the Supreme Court shall be appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and seal and shall hold office until he attains the age of sixty-five years.

Article 124 of the Indian Constitution

(1) There shall be a Supreme Court of India consisting of a Chief Justice of India and until Parliament by law prescribes a larger number, of not more than thirty-three other Judges.

(2) Every Judge of the Supreme Court shall be appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and seal after consultation with such of the Judges of the Supreme Court and of the High Courts in the States as the President may deem necessary for that purpose and shall hold office until he attains the age of sixty-five years. Provided that in the case of appointment of a judge other than the Chief Justice, the Chief Justice of India shall always be consulted :

Provided further that -

(a) A Judge may, by writing under his hand addressed to the President, resign his office.

(b) A Judge may be removed form his office in the manner provided in clause (4).

So, option (a) is the correct answer.