(c) Criminal Matters

The Supreme Court hears appeals against the judgement in a criminal proceeding of a high court if the high court-

(i) has on appeal reversed an order of acquittal of an accused person and sentenced him to death; or

(ii) has taken before itself any case from any subordinate court and convicted the accused person and sentenced him to death; or

(iii) certifies that the case is a fit one for appeal to the Supreme Court.

In the first two cases, an appeal lies to the Supreme Court as a matter of right (ie, without any certificate of the high court). But if the high court has reversed the order of conviction and has ordered the acquittal of the accused, there is no right to appeal to the Supreme Court.

In 1970, the Parliament had enlarged the Criminal Appellate Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. Accordingly, an appeal lies to the Supreme Court from the judgement of a high court if the high court:

(i) has on appeal, reversed an order of acquittal of an accused person and sentenced him to imprisonment for life or for ten years; or

(ii) has taken before itself any case from any subordinate court and convicted the accused person and sentenced him to

imprisonment for life or for ten years.

Further, the appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court extends to all civil and criminal cases in which the Federal Court of India had jurisdiction to hear appeals from the high court but which are not covered under the civil and criminal appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court mentioned above.