Federal Structure in Judicial Administration
Indian Polity & Governance
- PYQs8
- Articles1
Background
Understanding the interplay between central and state authorities in the administration of justice is crucial for comprehending the practical application of India's federal principles and the challenges in achieving uniformity in governance and judicial reforms.
India's quasi-federal structure mandates a division of powers and responsibilities between the Union and State governments, which extends to the administration of justice. While the Supreme Court stands at the apex of the integrated judicial system, the High Courts and subordinate courts operate within the state framework, leading to shared responsibilities and requiring coordination and consultation between central judicial bodies, State High Courts, and State Governments on matters of judicial administration and conditions of service.
Facts & tables
- Supreme Court's Role
- Issues directions and guidance to states/UTs regarding judicial administration.
- State Government and High Court Role
- Make decisions on conditions of service for district judiciary in consultation.
- Variations Across States
- Differing positions among states/High Courts on judicial administration issues highlight federal complexities.
| Type | Reference |
|---|---|
| Conceptual area | Indian Federalism |
| Conceptual area | Judicial Administration |
| Body | Role |
|---|---|
| Supreme Court of India | Guides, adjudicates |
| High Courts | Consults, recommends |
| State Governments | Decides, implements |
Prelims angle
Prelims angle: Statement-based questions
Prelims angle: Institutional roles and functions
- SC directs states/UTs on judicial matters, but states/HCs have autonomy.
- Decisions on district judiciary conditions (e.g., retirement age) require state government and High Court consultation.
- Variations in policy across states reflect federal nature of judicial administration.
- Highlights challenges in achieving uniform judicial reforms nationwide.
| Year | Framing tags |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2025 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2025 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2025 | Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding |
| 2023 | Statement-based questions, Institutional roles and functions |
| 2023 | Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding |
| 2021 | Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding |
| 2019 | Factual recall, Institutional roles and functions |
Timeline
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Indian Federalism
Conceptual area
-
Judicial Administration
Conceptual area
-
Prelims 2019
Factual recall, Institutional roles and functions
-
Prelims 2021
Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding
-
Prelims 2023
Statement-based questions, Institutional roles and functions
-
Prelims 2023
Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding
-
Prelims 2025
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2025
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2025
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2025
Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding
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Supreme Court asks States, UTs to consider raising retirement age of judicial officers from 60 to 61 years
The administration of the district judiciary involves a federal interplay where the Supreme Court provides guidance, but state governments and High Courts hold significant decision-making power regarding conditions of service, leading to variations across states and highlighting the complexities of federal governance in the judicial sphere.
See also
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Past papers
2019–2025 · 8 questions
In the news
Supreme Court asks States, UTs to consider raising retirement age of judicial officers from 60 to 61 years
The administration of the district judiciary involves a federal interplay where the Supreme Court provides guidance, but state governments and High Courts hold significant decision-making power regarding conditions of service, leading to variations across states and highlighting the complexities of federal governance in the judicial sphere.
Try these PYQs
With reference to 'Scheduled Areas' in India, consider the following statements:
1. Within a State, the notification of an area as Scheduled Area takes place through an Order of the President.
2. The largest administrative unit forming the Scheduled Area is the District and the lowest is the cluster of villages in the Block.
3. The Chief Ministers of the concerned States are required to submit annual reports to the Union Home Ministry on the administration of Scheduled Areas in the States.
How many of the above statements are correct?
* Statement 1 is correct: As per Article 244(1) of the Constitution's Fifth Schedule, Scheduled Areas are areas that the President may declare to be such by order after consultation with the Governor of that State. * Statement 2 is correct: District is considered as the largest administrative unit which forms the Scheduled Area while the lowest administrative unit is the cluster of villages in the Block. * Statement 3 is incorrect: The Fifth Schedule to the Constitution of India states in para 3 that the Governor of each State having Scheduled Areas therein shall annually, or whenever so required by the President, make a report to the President regarding the administration of the Scheduled Areas in that State and the executive power of the Union shall extend to the giving of directions to the State as to the Administration of the said areas.
With reference to India, consider the following statements:
1. When a prisoner makes out a sufficient case, parole cannot be denied to such prisoner because it becomes a matter of his/her right.
2. State Governments have their own Prisoners Release on Parole Rules.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Statement 1 is incorrect. Parole is not an absolute right in India. There's a consideration process involved. While a prisoner can present their case for parole, the authorities have the discretion to grant or deny it. Statement 2 is correct. State governments do have their own set of rules governing parole within the broad framework provided by the Prison Act, of 1894 and the Prisoner Act, of 1900.
Consider the following statements:
With reference to the Constitution of India, if an area in a State is declared as Scheduled Area under the Fifth Schedule,
I. the State Government loses its executive power in such areas and a local body assumes total administration.
II. the Union Government can take over the total administration of such areas under certain circumstances on the recommendations of the Governor.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
When an area is declared a Scheduled Area under the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution, it continues to be administered by the State Government, but with special powers granted to the Governor for tribal welfare. ❌ Statement I: Incorrect The State Government does not lose its executive powers. There is no provision for a local body to take over full administration. ❌ Statement II: Incorrect The Union Government cannot take over total administration of Scheduled Areas under the Fifth Schedule, even on the Governor’s recommendation.
Consider the following statements:
Statement-I: In India, prisons are managed by State Governments with their own rules and regulations for the day-to-day administration of prisons.
Statement-II: In India, prisons are governed by the Prisons Act, 1894 which expressly kept the subject of prisons in the control of Provincial Governments.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
The Prisons Act 1894 is one of the oldest pieces of legislation in India dealing with laws enacted in relation to prisons in India. * Statement 1 is correct: Prison is a State subject under List-II of the Seventh Schedule in the Constitution. States have the primary role, responsibility, and power to change the current prison laws, rules, and regulations. Hence it is true that prisons are managed by the state governments with their own rules and regulations. * Statement 2 is correct: The management and administration of Prisons falls exclusively in the domain of the State Governments and is governed by the Prisons Act, of 1894 and the Prison Manuals of the respective State Governments. * Hence it is true that the Prisons Act of 1894 kept the subject of prisons in the Provincial government (State governments) and this explains why State governments have the power to frame their own rules and regulations regarding prison management.
Consider the following statements:
Statement I:
In India, State Governments have no power for making rules for grant of concessions in respect of extraction of minor minerals even though such minerals are located in their territories.
Statement II:
In India, the Central Government has the power to notify minor minerals under the relevant law.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
❌ Statement I: Incorrect
Regulation of minor minerals is mainly a State subject under the MMDR Act, 1957. States have the authority to make rules for extraction concessions. ✅ Statement II: Correct
The Central Government notifies which minerals are classified as 'minor minerals' under the MMDR Act. Therefore, Statement I is incorrect, and Statement II is correct.
Show 3 more PYQs
Consider the following subjects under the Constitution of India:
I. List I–Union List, in the Seventh Schedule
II. Extent of the executive power of a State
III. Conditions of the Governor’s office
For a constitutional amendment with respect to which of the above, ratification by the Legislatures of not less than one-half of the States is required before presenting the bill to the President of India for assent?
Statement I is Correct: Any change in the Union List alters the distribution of legislative powers and requires ratification by at least half of the State Legislatures. Statement II is Correct: Changes affecting the extent of a State’s executive power also need ratification by not less than one-half of the States. Statement III is Incorrect: Conditions of the Governor’s office can be amended by Parliament alone and do not require ratification by States.
Which one of the following suggested that the Governor should be an eminent person from outside the State and should be a detached figure without intense political links or should not have taken part in politics in the recent past?
The Sarkaria Commission was established by the Government of India in 1983 to review Centre-State relations and recommend improvements. One of its key areas of focus was the appointment of Governors. Recommendations on the Appointment of Governor: - The Governor should be an eminent person with a distinguished record in public life. - The person must be from outside the State to ensure impartiality in administration. - The Governor should not have participated in active politics for some time prior to the appointment. - He should be a detached figure, not closely linked to local politics, to maintain neutrality. - The appointment process should involve wider consultation, including the Chief Minister of the State, the Vice President of India, and the Speaker of the Lok Sabha. These recommendations were aimed at ensuring that the Governor functions as an independent and neutral constitutional authority, rather than a political appointee of the ruling party at the Centre.
Consider the following pairs:
State – Description
I. Arunachal Pradesh : The capital is named after a fort, and the State has two National Parks.
II. Nagaland : The State came into existence on the basis of a Constitutional Amendment Act.
III. Tripura : Initially a Part 'C' State, it became a centrally administered territory with the reorganization of States in 1956 and later attained the status of a full-fledged State.
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
This question tests knowledge of historical and administrative facts about northeastern Indian states. ✅ Pair I: Arunachal Pradesh – Correct
* Itanagar, the capital, is named after Ita Fort.
* The state has two National Parks: Namdapha and Mouling. ✅ Pair II: Nagaland – Correct
* Nagaland attained statehood via a constitutional amendment and came into being on 1 December 1963 through the State of Nagaland Act, 1962. ✅ Pair III: Tripura – Correct
* Tripura was a Part 'C' state, became a Union Territory in 1956, and was granted statehood in 1972.