Understanding the Establishment of the Supreme Court of India

The question asks about the date when the Supreme Court of India came into existence. This is a key event in the history of the Indian Republic and its judicial system.

Let's examine the options provided:

• 30 January 1935
• 26 January 1950
• 15 August 1947
• 2 October 1952

To determine the correct date, we need to recall the historical context of India's transition to a republic and the establishment of its constitutional framework.

India gained independence on 15 August 1947. Following independence, a Constituent Assembly was formed to draft the Constitution of India. The Constitution was adopted on 26 November 1949 and came into force on 26 January 1950. This date is celebrated as Republic Day in India.

The Constitution of India established the Supreme Court of India under Article 124. Therefore, the Supreme Court of India legally came into existence with the commencement of the Constitution.

Analyzing the Options

Let's consider the significance of each date presented in the options:

• 30 January 1935: This date is not directly related to the establishment of the Supreme Court of independent India. The Government of India Act, 1935, which was enacted by the British Parliament, did establish a Federal Court, but this was the predecessor to the Supreme Court, not the Supreme Court itself, and the Act came into effect at various times, with the Federal Court inaugurated on 1 October 1937.
• 26 January 1950: This is the date when the Constitution of India came into force. The Constitution includes provisions (Article 124 onwards) for the establishment and functioning of the Supreme Court of India. Thus, the Supreme Court legally came into existence on this day, although it was formally inaugurated two days later on 28 January 1950. The question asks when it 'came into existence', which aligns with the commencement of the Constitution.
• 15 August 1947: This is India's Independence Day. While independence paved the way for the new Constitution and the Supreme Court, the Supreme Court itself was not established on this date.
• 2 October 1952: This date is significant as the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, but it has no direct connection to the establishment of the Supreme Court of India.

Based on the analysis of the options and historical facts, the Supreme Court of India came into existence concurrently with the commencement of the Constitution.

Therefore, the date the Supreme Court of India came into existence is 26 January 1950.

Revision Table: Key Dates for Indian Judiciary

Additional Information: The Journey to the Supreme Court

The establishment of the Supreme Court of India on 26 January 1950 marked a new era for the Indian judicial system. It replaced the Federal Court of India and the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, which were the highest courts for different purposes before this date.

• The Federal Court of India was established in 1937 under the Government of India Act, 1935. Its jurisdiction was primarily original in disputes between provinces and federal states, and it also had limited appellate jurisdiction. However, the highest court of appeal remained the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London.
• After India became a Republic with the new Constitution, the Supreme Court of India was established as the ultimate court of appeal and the custodian of the Constitution.
• The Supreme Court held its first sitting on 28 January 1950, just two days after the Constitution came into force.
• The Supreme Court is located on Tilak Marg, New Delhi. Initially, it functioned from the Parliament House. It moved to its present building in 1958.
• The number of judges in the Supreme Court has increased over time from the initial 8 (a Chief Justice and 7 other Judges) to the current 34 (a Chief Justice and 33 other Judges).

The date 26 January 1950 is therefore crucial as it signifies the legal birth of the Supreme Court under the framework of the newly adopted Constitution of the Republic of India.