High Courts Cannot Reassess Entire Evidence While Exercising Powers Under Article 227: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court held that High Courts cannot invoke their supervisory jurisdiction under Article 227 of the Constitution to reassess the entire evidence on record and substitute the trial court’s findings with their own.

The Court observed that powers under Article 227 are limited to correcting jurisdictional errors, patent illegality, or grave procedural irregularities, and cannot be exercised like an appellate forum.

Setting aside a High Court order that interfered with a trial court decision after re-evaluating facts and evidence, the Bench emphasised that supervisory jurisdiction must be exercised sparingly and within constitutional limits to maintain judicial discipline and hierarchy.

[Vinay Raghunath Deshmukh v. Natwarlal Shamji Gada & Anr.]