Civics Polity · Law Legal Studies

Judiciary and Legal Systems

1,814 Questions

Judiciary and legal systems form the framework for interpreting laws and delivering justice. Questions in this section explore judicial review, the hierarchy of courts, and the issuance of writs. This topic is crucial for polity and law prelims preparation.

Judicial reviewHigh courts structureIssuance of writsSubordinate courtsPublic interest litigation

Judiciary and Legal Systems Questions

Multiple choice

Judicial review in India is based on

  1. the due process of law

  2. the rule of law

  3. the procedure established by law

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Indian judicial review follows the 'procedure established by law' doctrine (Article 21), meaning laws must follow proper legal procedures but can be unjust if the procedure is correct. The American 'due process of law' doctrine allows courts to examine the fairness and justice of the law itself. The 'rule of law' concept is broader. India explicitly rejected the due process model in the Constituent Assembly debates to avoid judicial overreach.

Multiple choice

What is a court setup without legal basis with chances of bias judgement (as set up by fraternity groups etc) called?

  1. Kid court

  2. Fox Court

  3. Kangaroo Court

  4. Mock court
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

A kangaroo court is an unofficial, illegitimate court that disregards recognized standards of law and justice. These courts are typically set up by groups (like fraternities, prison inmates, or vigilante organizations) and often result in biased judgments because they bypass proper legal procedures and due process.

Multiple choice

The writ of Mandamus is issued by the Supreme Court to:

  1. a public authority to perform public duty

  2. a lower court to transfer the proceedings of a case to a higher court

  3. a lower court to stop the proceedings of a case which is not under its jurisdiction

  4. a person to question his authority to occupy public office

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The writ of Mandamus is issued by the Supreme Court to a public authority when it goes against the constitution or when it fails to perform a public duty. This writ is just like a wake up call given by the court to the concerned authority to perform a public duty. 

Multiple choice

Under the extraordinary original jurisdiction, which of the following matters is dealt by the Supreme Court?

  1. Violation of fundamental rights

  2. Disputes between centre and any state or between any two states

  3. Cases related to issues threatening national security like armed rebellion, terrorist attacks, communal violence etc

  4. Disputes between any two industries
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The Supreme Court's exclusive original jurisdiction extends to any dispute between the Government of India and one or more states, or between the Government of India and any state or states on one side and one or more states on the other, or between two or more states, if and in so far as the dispute involves any question whether of law or of fact on which the existence or extent of a legal right depends.

Multiple choice

‘Judicial’ murder is

  1. murder by a judge

  2. an unjust sentence of death

  3. a biased judgment

  4. murder within the court’s complex
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Judicial Murder is death caused by a court sentence held to be legal but unjust. 

Multiple choice

The two classes of advocates in India are

  1. advocates and senior advocates

  2. barristers and solicitors

  3. lawyers and judges

  4. none of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Under section 16 of the Advocates Act, 1961, there shall be two classes of advocates namely senior advocates and other advocates.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements are correct?

A retired judge of a High Court:

(1) can practise as an advocate in any High Court or subordinate courts

(2) can become a judge of Supreme Court

(3) can practise as an advocate in the Supreme Court even after retiring from the High Court

(4) can become the head of advisory courts and disputes tribunals

  1. 1, 2 and 3

  2. 3 and 4

  3. 2, 3 and 4

  4. All the statements are correct
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

A retired judge of a High Court cannot practise in any High Court or Subordinate Court. However, he can practise in the Supreme Court.

Multiple choice

Will the pendency of a suit in a foreign court will preclude the courts in India from trying a suit founded on the same cause of action?

  1. Yes

  2. No

  3. Depends on the nature of the suit

  4. Finding will be said on valuation of the suit
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Option (1) is incorrect: Does not preclude the courts in India from trying a suit founded on the same cause of action. Option (2) is correct: Explanation under section 10 states that the pendency of a suit in a foreign court does not preclude the courts in India from trying a suit founded on the same cause of action. Option (3) is incorrect: It doesn’t depend on the nature of suit. Option (4) is incorrect: No such provision

Multiple choice

Jurisdiction of district

  1. exceeds twenty lac

  2. exceeds 50 lac

  3. is up to twenty lac

  4. is twenty to fifty lac

  5. is up to twenty five lac
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

(4) Jurisdiction of district is twenty to fifty lac. 

Multiple choice

A civil court before which an action is brought in a matter which is subject matter of arbitration, while referring the parties to arbitration on application of any party, is under the arbitration & conciliation act, 1996 required to

  1. dispose of the suit in terms of said reference

  2. dismiss the suit

  3. decree the suit

  4. stay further proceedings in the suit and adjoum the suit sine die
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

(1) A civil court before which an action is brought in a matter which is subject matter of arbitration, while referring the parties to arbitration on application of any party, is under the arbitration & conciliation act, 1996 required to dispose of the suit in terms of said reference.

Multiple choice

The advisory opinion tendered by the Supreme Court is

  1. binding on the President

  2. not binding on the President

  3. binding on the President only if it is unanimously made

  4. not made public at all
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The advisory opinion tendered by the Supreme Court is not binding on the President.