The Supreme Court is at the apex of the entire system of judiciary. In this context, answer the following questions:
What is meant by Judicial Review?
Topic: Judicial Review
Answer
Judicial Review is the power of the Supreme Court to examine the laws passed by the Union or State Legislatures and the orders issued by the executive, and to declare them ULTRA VIRES — null and void — if they are against the spirit of the Constitution.
By this power the Court acts as the guardian and final interpreter of the Constitution and as the protector of the Fundamental Rights of the citizens.
Two marks: one for what the Court examines and one for what it may do about it. The words that carry the marks are "null and void" or "ultra vires" — a vague answer such as "it checks the laws" earns half at best. Keep Judicial Review distinct from REVISORY jurisdiction: review tests the constitutionality of a LAW, revision corrects an error in the Court’s own DECISION.