21 multiple-choice (MCQ / objective) questions from this chapter, in every exam-style shape used in the paper. Every question comes with an explanation along with the answer, so you remember why the option is correct, not just which one it is.
1 Direct Questions
Direct Questions
- 1 markWhat does the principle of rule of law say?
(A) Only the rich should be subject to law(B) All individuals, rich or poor, are subject to the same law(C) Only men should be subject to law(D) Law should apply only to forward castes - 1 markWhat does independence of the judiciary NOT mean?
(A) Judges act without fear or favour(B) Other organs do not interfere in judicial decisions(C) The judiciary is free from all accountability(D) The executive-legislature do not restrain the judiciary’s functioning - 1 markHow are judges protected from unfair criticism?
(A) No law applies to them(B) Through the power to penalise contempt of court(C) They can never be wrong(D) Parliament always praises them - 1 markWhom did M.H. Beg supersede when appointed CJI in 1975?
(A) A.N. Ray(B) H.R. Khanna(C) V. Ramaswami(D) Justice Bhagwati - 1 markWhat majority is required to pass a motion to remove a judge?
(A) Simple majority(B) Special majority in both Houses(C) Unanimous consent(D) Two-thirds present in one House only - 1 markWhat kind of judicial system does India have?
(A) Separate State court systems(B) A single integrated judicial system(C) No fixed structure(D) Only central courts - 1 markWhich of the following is NOT a power of the Supreme Court?
(A) Transferring High Court judges(B) Withdrawing any case to itself(C) Appointing a State’s new Chief Minister(D) Transferring cases between High Courts - 1 markUnder advisory jurisdiction, are the Court and the President bound?
(A) Both are bound(B) Neither the Court is bound to advise, nor the President bound to accept it(C) The Court is bound, the President is not(D) The President is bound, the Court is not - 1 markAround which year did the idea of PIL, dropping the requirement of personal grievance, begin?
(A) 1950(B) 1979(C) 1991(D) 2003 - 1 markHow did the Sunil Batra vs. Delhi Administration case begin?
(A) From a newspaper report(B) From a scribbled note sent by a Tihar jail inmate(C) From a presidential order(D) From a parliamentary motion - 1 markWhat is true of the term ‘judicial review’?
(A) It is explicitly written in the Constitution(B) It is nowhere mentioned in the Constitution, but the power is implicit(C) It applies only to High Courts(D) It applies only to State laws
2 Assertion-Reason
Assertion-Reason
- 1 markAssertion (A): The motion to remove Justice V. Ramaswami failed.
Reason (R): The Congress party abstained from voting, so the motion could not get the support of one-half of the total strength of the House.
(A) Both A and R are true, and R correctly explains A(B) Both A and R are true, but R does not explain A(C) A is true, R is false(D) A is false, R is true - 1 markAssertion (A): Parliament cannot alter the basic structure of the Constitution even through an amendment.
Reason (R): The Supreme Court established this principle in the Kesavananda Bharati case (1973).
(A) Both A and R are true, and R correctly explains A(B) Both A and R are true, but R does not explain A(C) A is true, R is false(D) A is false, R is true
3 Match the Following
Match the Following
- 1 markMatch the following:
List I: (i) Dispute between State of Bihar and Union of India (ii) Appeal from a Haryana district court (iii) Single Integrated Judiciary (iv) Declaring a law unconstitutional
List II: (P) Supreme Court (Q) Original Jurisdiction (R) Judicial Review (S) High Court
(A) i-Q, ii-S, iii-P, iv-R(B) i-P, ii-Q, iii-R, iv-S(C) i-R, ii-P, iii-Q, iv-S(D) i-S, ii-R, iii-Q, iv-P - 1 markMatch the following:
List I: (i) A.N. Ray (ii) V. Ramaswami (iii) Justice Bhagwati (iv) Justice Krishna Iyer
List II: (P) Remarks in the Bandhua Mukti Morcha case (Q) Appointed CJI in 1973, breaking convention (R) Received the Sunil Batra case note (S) Removal motion failed
(A) i-P, ii-Q, iii-R, iv-S(B) i-Q, ii-S, iii-P, iv-R(C) i-R, ii-S, iii-Q, iv-P(D) i-S, ii-P, iii-R, iv-Q
4 Statement-Based Questions
Statement-Based Questions
- 1 markStatement I: Judges’ salaries and allowances are subject to the legislature’s approval.
Statement II: Parliament cannot discuss a judge’s conduct except during removal proceedings.
(A) Both statements are true(B) Statement I is true, Statement II is false(C) Statement I is false, Statement II is true(D) Both statements are false - 1 markStatement I: A convention held that the senior-most judge of the Supreme Court would be appointed CJI.
Statement II: This convention has never been broken.
(A) Both statements are true(B) Statement I is true, Statement II is false(C) Statement I is false, Statement II is true(D) Both statements are false - 1 markStatement I: Judicial activism only gave individuals access to courts, not groups.
Statement II: Judicial activism overburdened the courts.
(A) Both statements are true(B) Statement I is true, Statement II is false(C) Statement I is false, Statement II is true(D) Both statements are false
5 Chronological Ordering
Chronological Ordering
- 1 markArrange the events of the V. Ramaswami case in the correct order:
(i) The Congress party abstained from voting
(ii) 108 MPs signed the motion to remove him
(iii) The inquiry commission found him guilty
(iv) The motion got two-thirds but not one-half of total House strength
(A) ii, iii, i, iv(B) ii, iv, iii, i(C) iii, ii, i, iv(D) iii, ii, iv, i
6 Fill in the Blanks
Fill in the Blanks
- 1 markThe Supreme Court’s power to review its own judgment or order comes from Article _______.
(A) 32(B) 137(C) 226(D) 144
7 Passage-Based Questions
Passage-Based Questions
Passage
In 1991, the first-ever motion to remove a Supreme Court judge was signed by 108 Members of Parliament. Justice V. Ramaswami was accused of misappropriating funds while serving as Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. In 1992, an inquiry commission found him guilty of wilful and gross misuse of office and moral turpitude. Despite this strong indictment, the motion got the required two-thirds majority among members present and voting, but the Congress party abstained from voting, so the motion could not get the support of one-half of the total strength of the House.
- 1 markAccording to the passage, how many MPs signed the motion to remove the judge?
(A) 58(B) 98(C) 108(D) 118
Answer Key and Explanations
Direct Questions
- (B) The rule of law means every individual, regardless of class, gender or caste, is subject to the same law.
- (C) Independence does not mean freedom from accountability, the judiciary is accountable to the Constitution and the people.
- (B) The power to penalise contempt of court protects judges from unfair personal criticism.
- (B) In 1975, M.H. Beg was appointed CJI, superseding H.R. Khanna.
- (B) The motion must be approved by a special majority in both Houses of Parliament.
- (B) India’s Constitution provides for a single integrated judicial system, unlike some other federal countries.
- (C) Appointing a Chief Minister is an executive function, not a Supreme Court power.
- (B) Neither is the Supreme Court bound to give advice, nor is the President bound to accept it.
- (B) Around 1979, the Court first heard a case filed by others on an aggrieved party’s behalf, not the aggrieved person themselves.
- (B) A Tihar jail inmate sent Justice Krishna Iyer a scribbled note about torture, which the judge converted into a petition.
- (B) The term ‘judicial review’ is nowhere in the Constitution’s text, but is implicit through the written constitution and the SC’s power to strike down laws.
Assertion-Reason
- (A) R states exactly the reason the motion failed, so R correctly explains A.
- (A) The Kesavananda Bharati ruling is exactly where this principle came from, so R correctly explains A.
Match the Following
- (A) The Bihar-Union dispute is heard under original jurisdiction (Q); a district court appeal goes to the High Court (S); a single integrated judiciary means one Supreme Court-headed system (P); declaring a law unconstitutional is judicial review (R).
- (B) A.N. Ray was appointed CJI in 1973, breaking the seniority convention (Q); V. Ramaswami’s removal motion failed (S); Justice Bhagwati made remarks in the Bandhua Mukti Morcha case (P); Justice Krishna Iyer received the Sunil Batra case note (R).
Statement-Based Questions
- (C) Statement I is false, judges’ salaries are NOT subject to legislative approval, this ensures financial independence. Statement II is true.
- (B) Statement I is true, that was indeed the convention. Statement II is false, it was broken in 1973 and 1975.
- (C) Statement I is false, judicial activism gave both individuals and groups access to courts. Statement II is true.
Chronological Ordering
- (A) First 108 MPs signed the motion (ii), then the inquiry commission found him guilty (iii), then at the vote the Congress party abstained (i), so the motion got two-thirds of those present and voting but not one-half of the total strength of the House (iv).
Fill in the Blanks
- (B) Article 137 gives the Supreme Court the power to review its own judgment or order.
Passage-Based Questions
- (C) The passage states 108 Members of Parliament signed the motion.
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