Important Legal Definitions

The judicial application of the mind by a magistrate to the suspected commission of an offence (upon a police report, private complaint, or information) to determine whether sufficient grounds exist to initiate judicial proceedings.

An interim equitable order passed during the pendency of a suit to restrain a defendant from wasting, damaging, alienating, or selling the suit property, or from committing a breach of contract or injury.

The narrow scope of judicial review under Article 226 over the award of government infrastructure contracts, restricted to assessing whether the tender decision-making process was arbitrary, discriminatory, or tainted by bias.

The geographical boundary or territorial limits within which a court, tribunal, or public officer possesses the lawful authority to entertain suits, take cognizance of crimes, and execute orders.

A process conducted during investigation (usually before an Executive or Judicial Magistrate) where a victim or eyewitness identifies a suspect from a lineup of similar persons to corroborate investigative leads.

The tri-partite test established in Dalpat Kumar v. Prahlad Singh that a plaintiff must establish to secure an injunction: (1) a prima facie case, (2) balance of convenience in their favor, and (3) irreparable injury that cannot be compensated in money.

The statutory procedure where the court that passed a decree sends it for execution to another competent court, applied when the judgment debtor resides, carries on business, or holds property within the local limits of that other court.

The constitutional mechanism empowering the Supreme Court to withdraw cases involving the same or substantially the same questions of law pending before one or more High Courts and dispose of them itself, or transfer cases between different High Courts.

The concept that the Constitution is not merely a legal framework for running government, but an active instrument for social revolution designed to eradicate entrenched structural caste, gender, and economic hierarchies over time.

An interim pre-arrest protection granted by a High Court or Sessions Court within whose territorial jurisdiction the applicant resides, allowing them reasonable time to travel and approach the competent court having territorial jurisdiction over the offence.

The constitutional authority granting Parliament exclusive legislative competence to pass any law for the whole or any part of the territory of India to implement any international treaty, agreement, or convention, even if the subject matter falls within the State List.