Curative Petition is a key topic under Polity And Governance for UPSC Civil Services Examination. Key points include: Curative Petition is the last judicial remedy in India, after a Review Petition is dismissed.. It was evolved by the Supreme Court in the 2002 Rupa Ashok Hurra case.. Based on inherent powers under Article 137 and Article 142 of the Constitution.. Understanding this topic is essential for both UPSC Prelims and Mains preparation.
Curative Petition is a Medium-level topic in UPSC Polity And Governance. It is tested in both Prelims (factual MCQs) and Mains (analytical answer writing). Previous year UPSC questions have frequently covered aspects of Curative Petition, making it essential for comprehensive IAS preparation.
To prepare Curative Petition for UPSC: (1) Study the comprehensive notes covering all key concepts on Vaidra. (2) Practice previous year questions on this topic. (3) Connect it with current affairs using daily updates. (4) Revise using key takeaways and mind maps available for Polity And Governance. (5) Write practice answers linking Curative Petition to related GS Paper topics.

A Curative Petition represents the last resort and an extraordinary legal remedy available under Indian law. It allows for a reconsideration of a final judgment of the Supreme Court of India, even after a Review Petition has been dismissed.
Its primary purpose is to prevent a miscarriage of justice and to rectify a grave error that might have occurred in the earlier judgments. This power underscores the Supreme Court's commitment to ensuring justice.
The Supreme Court of India recently exercised its extraordinary powers by admitting and acting upon a curative petition. This significant move led to the overturning of its own previous judgment from 2021.
UPSC Insight: The recent event highlights the practical application and the immense power vested in the Supreme Court through the Curative Petition. Understanding its scope and limitations is crucial for both Prelims and Mains, especially in GS Paper II (Polity).
The Curative Petition is not a regular appeal. It is an exceptional remedy, invoked only in rare circumstances where a fundamental error or injustice is apparent, and all other remedies have been exhausted.
It emphasizes the principle that no person should suffer due to an error of the court, even if that error was made by the highest court in the land.
Key Point: The concept of Curative Petition evolved to ensure the absolute finality of justice, not just the finality of litigation. It acts as a safeguard against judicial errors that might lead to a gross injustice.


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