Subordinate - Definition - Law Dictionary Home Dictionary Definition subordinate

Definition :

Subordinate, by the use of the word 'subordinate' without any qualifying words, the legislature has expressed its legislative intention of making punishable such subordinates also who have no connection with the function with which the business or transaction is concerned, R.G. Jacob v. Republic of India, AIR 1963 SC 550 (553): (1963) 3 SCR 800. (Indian Penal Code, 1860, s. 165)

1. Placed in or belonging to a lower rank, class or position. 2. Subject to another's authority or control, Black's Law Dictionary, 7th Edn., p. 1439.

Subordinate, is not a term of art and in its dictionary meaning, it connotes several ideas including holding of secondary or subservient position, Toesh Kumar v. State of Bihar, 1985 BLJR 19.

Means a court can be said to be subordinate to another court only if the latter court has appellate or revisional jurisdiction or power of Superinten-dence given to it by some statutory provision over the former court, Bishambar Nath v. Achal Singh, AIR 1932 All 651: 1932 All LJ 816.

Means administratively subordinate, i.e. some other public servant who is his official superior and under whose administrative control he works, State of Uttar Pradesh v. Mata Bhikh, 1994 JIC 501 p. 504 (SC).

Means subordination in rank and not subordination of function, Mahadev Prasad Roy v. S.N. Chatterjee, AIR 1954 Pat 285; North West Frontier Province v. Suraj Narain Anand, AIR 1949 PC 112. [See Constitution of India, Art. 311(1)]