Article 227 of Constitution of India – Power of superintendence over all courts by the High Court

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Article 227 of Constitution of India deals with Power of superintendence over all courts by the High Court

Original Text of Article 227 of Constitution of India

(1) Every High Court shall have superintendence over all courts and tribunals throughout the territories in relation to which it exercises jurisdiction.]


(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing provision, the High Court may—
(a) call for returns from such courts;
(b) make and issue general rules and prescribe forms for regulating the practice and proceedings of such courts; and
(c) prescribe forms in which books, entries and accounts shall be kept by the officers of any such courts.


(3) The High Court may also settle tables of fees to be allowed to the sheriff and all clerks and officers of such courts and to attorneys, advocates and pleaders practising therein:
Provided that any rules made, forms prescribed or tables settled under clause (2) or clause (3) shall not be inconsistent with the provision of any law for the time being in force, and shall require the previous approval of the Governor.


(4) Nothing in this article shall be deemed to confer on a High Court powers of superintendence over any court or tribunal constituted by or under any law relating to the Armed Forces.

Questions related to Article 227 of Constitution of India

1. What is Article 227 of the Indian Constitution about?

Article 227 grants every High Court the power of superintendence over all courts and tribunals (except military courts) within its territorial jurisdiction, as per the Constitution of India.

2. Is the power under Article 227 the same as appellate jurisdiction?

Not exactly. The power under Article 227 is not appellate but administrative and supervisory, allowing the High Court to ensure that subordinate courts function properly, a point clarified in many cases on Indian Kanoon.

3. Can a litigant directly file a petition under Article 227?

Yes, individuals can approach the High Court under Article 227 for judicial review or to challenge irregularities in lower courts, though this power is discretionary and used sparingly under the Articles of Indian Constitution.

4. How is Article 227 different from Article 226?

Article 226 deals with writ jurisdiction (to enforce rights), while Article 227 is about supervisory control over lower courts and tribunals. Both serve different purposes under the Indian Constitution.

5. Where can I read real cases that invoked Article 227?

You can explore Indian Kanoon to find landmark judgments, procedural guidelines, and case-specific applications of Article 227 of the Indian Constitution.

For Further Reference:

Other Related Links:

Indian Constitution: All Articles and schedulesArticle 2 of Indian Constitution
Article 3 of Indian ConstitutionArticle 4 of Indian Constitution
Article 5 of indian ConstitutionArticle 6 of Indian Constitution
Article 7 of Indian ConstitutionArticle 8 of Indian Constitution
Article 9 of Indian ConstitutionArticle 10 of Indian Constitution
Article 11 of Indian ConstitutionCitizenship

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