Article 134 of the Indian Constitution
Title: Appellate jurisdiction of Supreme Court in criminal matters
📜 What Article 134 Provides:
Article 134 gives the Supreme Court of India the power to hear appeals in criminal cases from High Courts under specific conditions.
✅ Key Provisions Explained:
An appeal lies to the Supreme Court from any judgment, final order, or sentence in a criminal proceeding of a High Court, in the following cases:
🔹 Clause (1)(a):
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If the High Court has reversed an acquittal (of an accused) and sentenced them to death.
🔹 Clause (1)(b):
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If the High Court withdraws a case from a lower court (like Sessions Court), tries it itself, and convicts and sentences the accused to death.
🔹 Clause (1)(c):
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In any other case, if the High Court certifies under Article 134A that:
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The case is fit for appeal to the Supreme Court.
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✳️ Additional Power – Article 136:
Even if the above conditions are not met, a criminal appeal may still be admitted under Article 136 through the special leave petition (SLP) route.
🏛️ Why Article 134 Matters:
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Protects the rights of the accused in serious criminal cases, especially those involving the death penalty.
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Ensures Supreme Court oversight on critical criminal justice issues.
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Provides an additional layer of justice in sensitive or legally complex cases.
🧾 Example:
If a High Court overturns a Sessions Court's acquittal and sentences a person to death, the convicted person has the right to appeal directly to the Supreme Court under Article 134(1)(a).
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