Discuss the Advisory Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.

Advisory Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of India (Article 143):

• 1. Constitutional Scope: Under Article 143, the President of India may seek the opinion/advice of the Supreme Court on two categories of matters:
  • Category 1 (Art. 143(1)): Any question of law or fact of public importance that has arisen or is likely to arise (Court may give or refuse opinion — e.g., Ayodhya Reference 1994).
  • Category 2 (Art. 143(2)): Disputes arising out of pre-constitutional treaties, covenants, or agreements (Court is bound to tender opinion).
• 2. Nature of the Opinion: The advice rendered by the Supreme Court is purely advisory and not binding on the President, nor is it a judicial judgment enforceable under Art. 142.
• Significance: Enables the executive to resolve complex constitutional ambiguities before enacting contentious policies (e.g., Berubari 1960, Special Courts Bill 1978, 2G Spectrum Reference 2012).