6.1 HEGEMONY. SUPREME COURT
The Supreme Court of India: Beyond Adjudication to Political Influence Introduction The framers of the Indian Constitution envisioned the Supreme Court as an apex body with limited roles in governance. Designed primarily as a judicial arbiter, its mandate was to ensure the uniform interpretation of the Constitution across the judiciary. However, over the decades, the Supreme Court has evolved into a critical institutional actor, often influencing governance, development, and redistributive justice—areas originally intended for elected public officials under the domain of legisprudence . Vision of the Constitution Makers The Supreme Court was conceived as the final adjudicative body in India’s judicial hierarchy, tasked with safeguarding constitutional provisions and legal interpretations. Limited Political Role: The framers intended for the Court to stay apolitical, focusing on adjudication rather than governance. For instance, during the initial years post-independen...