WHAT ARE THE CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS FOR JUDICIAL REVIEW?

Though the phrase ‘Judicial Review’ has nowhere been used in the Constitution, the provisions of several Articles explicitly confer the power of judicial review on the Supreme Court and the High Courts. These provisions are explained below:

1. Article 13 declares that all laws that are inconsistent with or in derogation of the Fundamental Rights shall be null and void.
2. Article 32 guarantees the right to move the Supreme Court for the enforcement of the Fundamental Rights and empowers the Supreme Court to issue directions or orders or writs for that purpose.
3. Article 131 provides for the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court in centre–state and inter-state disputes.
4. Article 132 provides for the appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court in constitutional cases.
5. Article 133 provides for the appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court in civil cases.
6. Article 134 provides for the appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court in criminal cases.
7. Article 134-A deals with the certificate for an appeal to the Supreme Court from the High Courts.
8. Article 135 empowers the Supreme Court to exercise the jurisdiction and powers of the Federal Court under any pre-constitution law.
9. Article 136 authorizes the Supreme Court to grant special leave to appeal from any court or tribunal (except military tribunal and court-martial).
10. Article 143 authorizes the President to seek the opinion of the Supreme Court on any question of law or fact and on any pre-constitution legal matters.
11. Article 226 empowers the High Courts to issue directions or orders or writs for the enforcement of the Fundamental Rights and for any other purpose.
12. Article 227 vests in the High Courts the power of superintendence over all courts and tribunals within their respective territorial jurisdictions (except military courts or tribunals).
13. Article 245 deals with the territorial extent of laws made by Parliament and by the Legislatures of States.
14. Article 246 deals with the subject matter of laws made by Parliament and by the Legislatures of States (i.e., Union List, State List, and Concurrent List).

15. Articles 251 and 254 provide that in case of a conflict between the central law and state law, the central law prevails over the state law and the state law shall be void.
16. Article 372 deals with the continuance in force of the pre-constitution laws.