Jurisdiction refers to the legal authority of a court or a government agency to hear and decide cases within a specific geographical area or over certain types of legal matters. It delineates the boundaries within which a court or authority can exercise its power and render judgments. Jurisdiction can be territorial, meaning it pertains to cases that occur within the physical boundaries of a particular region or district. For example, a district court has jurisdiction over cases that arise within its district.

Moreover, jurisdiction can also be subject matter-based, determining the types of cases that a court or agency is empowered to adjudicate. For instance, certain specialised tribunals have jurisdiction over specific matters such as taxation, labor disputes, or environmental issues. Additionally, jurisdiction can be exclusive, concurrent, or residual, indicating whether a particular court has sole authority, shares authority with other courts, or retains residual authority when other courts do not have jurisdiction. Understanding jurisdiction is crucial in ensuring that legal proceedings are conducted in the appropriate forum and that decisions are made within the bounds of legal authority, thus upholding the principles of fairness and justice in the Indian legal system