Understanding Jurisdiction – Types with Real World Application

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This blog post is not a part of the CA Foundation Law syllabus. The concept of Jurisdiction is explained here purely for knowledge and conceptual clarity.

It helps CA Foundation students better understand case studies, court structures, and how legal judgments are framed.

This content is based on Rishabh Gaur Sir’s (IGP CA Foundation Faculty) explanation, aimed at curious minds who like to understand why courts function the way they do.

Table of Contents

Why Learn Jurisdiction if It’s Not in the Syllabus?

As a student, you might wonder: “Sir, yeh syllabus mein nahi hai, padhna zaroori hai kya?”

The answer is simple – to enhance your understanding of how courts work. When you learn about court decisions, disputes, or laws affecting businesses and individuals, you often come across phrases like:

Original Jurisdiction
Territorial Jurisdiction
Pecuniary Jurisdiction
Appellate Jurisdiction

Knowing these terms helps you interpret case studies, understand which court hears what, and improves your legal awareness. So even if not examinable, this knowledge is highly relevant.

What is Jurisdiction?

In simplest terms, jurisdiction means the legal power of a court to hear and decide a case. It defines:

Which court can hear which case
Whether the court has the authority over the subject, people, money, or region involved

Now, let’s understand different types of jurisdiction using examples that Rishabh Gaur Sir (IGP CA Foundation Faculty) explained.

Types of Jurisdiction

1. Territorial Jurisdiction

This is about location. Courts can only hear matters that happened within their assigned area or territory.

Example: If a fight happens in Ghaziabad, the Ghaziabad court will handle it – not the Delhi court, even if the parties are from Delhi. The case is decided by where the incident occurred.

2. Pecuniary Jurisdiction

This relates to the monetary value of the case. Different courts are assigned cases based on the amount involved.

Example from Business Studies (Class 12):

A consumer court can hear cases up to ₹20 lakhs.
Between ₹20 lakhs to ₹1 crore – State Commission.
Above ₹1 crore – National Commission.

Sir explains this beautifully: “Judges ki aukat decide kar di gayi hai – kitne paise tak ka case sun sakte ho.” That’s pecuniary jurisdiction in action.

3. Subject-Matter Jurisdiction

This is based on the type of dispute. Courts are assigned based on the subject of the case.

Examples:

A divorce case goes to the Family Court.
A consumer complaint goes to the Consumer Court.
A contract dispute might go to the Civil Court.

So, what happened decides which court can hear it.

4. Original Jurisdiction

This means the court is the first to hear the case.

Example (Article 131): If two states have a water-sharing dispute, say Uttarakhand vs Uttar Pradesh, the Supreme Court hears it directly. It doesn’t go through district or high courts.

Another Example (Article 32): Fundamental Rights violation? Directly go to the Supreme Court under its original jurisdiction.

5. Appellate Jurisdiction

If you’re not happy with a lower court’s decision, you can appeal in a higher court.

Example: If you lose in the High Court, you can appeal to the Supreme Court.

A Real-World Touch – The Waqf Board Amendment Example

Rishabh Gaur Sir (IGP CA Foundation Faculty) also gives a powerful real-world example – the Waqf Board Amendment Bill.

Suppose the Waqf Board claims ownership of land (like the Taj Mahal), and someone contests it, claiming personal ancestral ownership. Earlier, there was no clear appellate authority to challenge the Waqf Board.

But now, as per the amendment, a person can appeal to the High Court, which becomes an appellate jurisdiction authority over Waqf decisions.

This is how laws evolve, and understanding jurisdiction helps you track such legal shifts logically.

Conclusion

This knowledge may not appear on your CA Foundation Law exam, but it gives you a solid base to understand how and why legal systems work. Whether it’s territorial, pecuniary, or original jurisdiction, the concept stays the same – who has the power to decide?

Rishabh Gaur Sir (IGP CA Foundation Faculty) simplifies even the toughest legal jargon using real-life examples and simple logic, making sure every CA student gets a strong grip on concepts – not just for exams, but for life.