Overview

• The Supreme Court dismissed a petition by NGO Abhinav Bharat Congress seeking to grant Article 142 powers to high courts.
• Article 142 empowers the apex court to issue any order necessary to ensure complete justice in exceptional cases.
• Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan ruled that these powers are exclusive to the Supreme Court and cannot be extended to high courts.
• The bench stated that only a constitutional amendment by Parliament could allow such a transfer of authority.
• The decision underscores the Supreme Court's unique role in India's judicial framework and its nationwide reach under Article 142.