UPSC Prelims 2014 Question:

The power of the Supreme Court of India to decide disputes between the Centre and the States falls under its

Explanation: 

The Supreme Court decides the disputes between different units of the Indian Federation.

• Original Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court falls in the following matters: 

• Between the Centre and one or more states; or

• Between the Centre and any state or states on one side and one or more other states on the other side; or

• Between two or more states.

• In the above federal disputes, the Supreme Court has exclusive original jurisdiction, meaning, no other court can decide such disputes and original means, the power to hear such disputes in the first instance, not by way of appeal. With regard to the exclusive original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, two points should be noted. One, the dispute must involve a question (whether of law or fact) on which the existence or extent of a legal right depends. Thus, the questions of political nature are excluded from it. Two, any suit brought before the Supreme Court by a private citizen against the Centre or a state cannot be entertained under this.
  
  

Therefore, option (3) is the correct answer. 

Subject: Polity | Judiciary