Key facts
- CJI Surya Kant said SC cannot oversee High Courts 'like a headmaster'
- Remarks affirm judicial federalism and High Court independence
- Comments come amid debate over SC's supervisory jurisdiction
Hindustan Times reports that Chief Justice of India Surya Kant publicly stated that the Supreme Court cannot function as a headmaster overseeing the day-to-day operations of the country's High Courts. The CJI emphasised the need to respect the institutional independence of High Courts, which serve as the principal courts of record for each state and union territory.
The remarks reflect a broader principle embedded in India's constitutional framework: while the Supreme Court is the apex court with appellate jurisdiction, High Courts are not merely subordinate administrative units but independent constitutional bodies with their own jurisdiction and discretion.
CJI Kant's comments are significant because they come from the head of the judiciary itself, and they signal an intent to recalibrate the relationship between the apex court and High Courts. In recent years, the Supreme Court has occasionally drawn criticism — and also praise — for taking suo motu cognisance of matters that some argue fall squarely within High Court jurisdiction.
For ordinary citizens, a clearer boundary between the two tiers of courts could mean more efficient justice delivery, with High Courts empowered to resolve matters locally without routine escalation to the Supreme Court.