A Special Leave Petition (SLP) under Article 136 of the Constitution of India is one of the most critical and complex pleadings in the Indian judicial system. It grants the Supreme Court the residual power to hear appeals against any judgment, decree, determination, sentence, or order passed by any court or tribunal in the country.
Because Article 136 is an extraordinary discretionary power, the registry of the Supreme Court and the Bench enforce strict rules regarding formatting, structure, and content. A poorly structured SLP will be returned with defects by the registry or dismissed in a matter of seconds during admission hearings.
This guide provides a professional overview of how to structure a Special Leave Petition in compliance with the Supreme Court Rules, 2013.
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Quick Summary
To structure a Special Leave Petition (SLP) for the Supreme Court:
* Frame substantial Questions of Law at the absolute beginning;
* Draft a chronological List of Dates and Synopsis summarizing the case history and the impugned order;
* Ensure compliance with the Supreme Court Rules, 2013 regarding layout, margins, and paper color;
* State the grounds for seeking special leave under Article 136;
* Include declarations and certificates required from the Advocate-on-Record (AoR);
* File supporting applications (e.g., stay, exemption, condonation of delay) alongside the petition.
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Technical Formatting Rules
The Supreme Court Registry imposes precise technical standards. Failure to follow these formatting guidelines results in immediate registry defects:
* Paper: High-quality A4 size paper (preferably white or green ledger paper where custom rules apply);
* Printing: Printed on one side of the paper only (with double spacing);
* Margins: Left margin of 1.5 inches, right/top/bottom margins of at least 1 inch;
* Font: Standard legal font (Times New Roman or Calibri), font size 12-14pt, double line spacing;
* Page Numbering: Every page, including annexures, must be numbered consecutively in the top or bottom center.
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Standard Structural Layout of an SLP
An SLP is not a standard appeal. It is a petition seeking *leave* to appeal. The file must be structured in the following sequence:
1. Synopsis and List of Dates (Forming the Prefix)
This is the most read part of the SLP file. Judges often read the Synopsis and List of Dates first to understand the dispute.
* Synopsis: A brief, 2-to-3 page narrative explaining the core controversy, the error in the High Court's judgment, and why Supreme Court intervention is necessary.
* List of Dates (Chronology): A two-column table mapping key events and dates from the inception of the dispute up to the date of filing the SLP.
2. Questions of Law
This is the legal foundation of the petition. Under Article 136, the Supreme Court does not routinely re-appreciate facts. You must frame clear, substantial questions of law that arise from the impugned judgment. ```text "Whether the High Court was justified in ignoring the statutory mandate of Section [Number] while reversing the well-reasoned order of the Trial Court?" ```
3. The Main Petition (Form 28)
The petition itself follows a specific format (Form 28 under the Supreme Court Rules):
* Cause Title: Addressing the Chief Justice and companion Justices, followed by Petitioner vs. Respondent names and details.
* Special Leave Petition Clause:
```text "To, The Hon'ble the Chief Justice of India and his companion Justices of the Supreme Court of India. The Special Leave Petition of the Petitioner above-named..." ```
* Impugned Order details: Describe the exact order being challenged (date, judge names, case number, and High Court name).
* Questions of Law & Declaration: Include the questions of law and declarations that no other petition has been filed in the Supreme Court or any other court for the same relief.
4. Statement of Facts
A concise, paragraph-wise narration of the facts of the case, focusing strictly on details necessary to understand the legal questions raised. Avoid excessive emotional language; remain objective and fact-centric.
5. Grounds of Appeal
The grounds are the core arguments of the petition. Each ground must start with a separate letter (e.g., Ground A, Ground B) and explain a specific legal error: * How the lower court misapplied or misinterpreted the law; * Violation of principles of natural justice; * Conflict between the High Court's decision and existing Supreme Court precedents; * Failure to consider material evidence on record.
6. Prayer Clause
State the exact relief sought from the court. The prayer clause has a standard structure: ```text "The Petitioner, therefore, most respectfully prays that this Hon'ble Court may be pleased to: (a) Grant Special Leave to Appeal against the impugned final judgment and order dated [Date] passed by the High Court of [Name] in [Case Number]; and (b) Pass such other or further order(s) as this Hon'ble Court may deem fit and proper in the interest of justice." ```
7. Certificates and Verification
* Advocate-on-Record Certificate: A certificate signed by the AoR stating that the petition is filed in accordance with the rules and that no new facts or documents have been added without permission.
* Verification Clause: Signed by the petitioner, stating that all factual assertions are true.
* Affidavit in Support: An affidavit signed by the petitioner, sworn before a Notary Public or Oath Commissioner.
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Crucial Supporting Applications
Often, filing the main petition is not enough. You must attach relevant applications depending on the situation:
* Application for Stay (I.A. for Stay): To stay the execution or operation of the High Court's order pending final disposal of the SLP;
* Application for Exemption: E.g., exemption from filing certified copies of the impugned order, or exemption from filing official translations of vernacular documents;
* Application for Condonation of Delay: Required if the SLP is filed after the limitation period (usually 90 days from the date of the High Court's judgment, or 60 days if certificate of fitness was refused).
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Conclusion & AoR Checklist
Before submission, the Advocate-on-Record (AoR) must verify: 1. Impugned judgment is attached as Annexure P-1; 2. All vernacular documents are accompanied by an official English translation; 3. No new facts or pleadings have been introduced that were not part of the lower court records (unless a specific application for additional documents is filed); 4. Limitation period has been calculated correctly; 5. All references to case citations are verified and accurate.
For junior advocates, utilizing structured templates and specialized AI drafting tools can greatly speed up the compilation of the synopsis and list of dates, ensuring that formatting standards are met without delaying urgent filings.
*Disclaimer: This article is for general informational and professional workflow purposes only. It is not legal advice. Supreme Court practice requires specialized registration and review by an Advocate-on-Record.*