The power of the Supreme Court of India to decide disputes between the Centre (the Union Government) and the States falls under its original jurisdiction.
The original jurisdiction of a court refers to the authority of the court to hear a case for the first time, as opposed to appellate jurisdiction, which involves reviewing decisions made by lower courts. The Supreme Court of India has been granted original jurisdiction in certain types of disputes, including disputes between the Centre and the States.
Article 131 of the Constitution of India explicitly confers original jurisdiction on the Supreme Court to adjudicate disputes between the Centre and one or more States, or between two or more States. This means that the Supreme Court has the exclusive authority to hear and decide these types of disputes.
The rationale behind granting original jurisdiction to the Supreme Court in such cases is to ensure a fair and impartial resolution of conflicts between the Centre and the States. It helps in maintaining the balance of power between the two entities and promotes the federal structure of governance in India.
Under its original jurisdiction, the Supreme Court can hear a wide range of disputes, including those related to the interpretation or enforcement of constitutional provisions, legal rights, and obligations arising from agreements or treaties between the Centre and the States, or disputes arising out of the distribution of legislative or executive powers between them.
It is important to note that the Supreme Court`s original jurisdiction in such matters is distinct from its appellate jurisdiction, which involves hearing appeals from lower courts. In appellate jurisdiction, the Supreme Court reviews the decisions made by lower courts and determines whether they were legally correct.
In summary, the power of the Supreme Court of India to decide disputes between the Centre and the States falls under its original jurisdiction. This jurisdiction allows the Supreme Court to hear and decide these disputes for the first time, ensuring a fair resolution and upholding the federal structure of governance in the country.