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 political science understanding laws rural administration evolution and structure of indian judiciary importance of laws

The Supreme Court was set up ________________.

  1. By an act of Parliament

  2. By the Constitution

  3. Under the Government of India Act, 1935

  4. By a Presidential order
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The Supreme Court of India came into being on 28 January 1950. It replaced both the Federal Court of India and the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council which were then at the apex of the Indian court system.

Multiple choice political science understanding laws rural administration evolution and structure of indian judiciary importance of laws

The structure of courts is organised in a hierarchical order. Which one of the following is a middle level court?

  1. Subordinate courts

  2. District courts

  3. High Courts

  4. None of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The structure of courts is organized in a hierarchical order. According to this the High Courts are a middle level court. High Courts are the highest courts at the State and Union Territories level. These courts have jurisdiction over a State, a Union Territory or a group of States and Union Territories. The High Courts in India enjoys writ, appellate and revision jurisdiction.

Multiple choice political science understanding laws rural administration evolution and structure of indian judiciary importance of laws

How can a judge of the Supreme Court be removed?

  1. By the Supreme Court itself

  2. By the Parliament through impeachment

  3. By the President alone

  4. By the Police
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The Judges cannot be removed from office by any authority through a normal simple procedure. A judge can be removed by the President only for proved misbehaviour and incapacity. This charge needs to be proved only by a joint address by both Houses of Parliament and supported by a two-third majority of members present and voting.

Multiple choice political science understanding laws rural administration evolution and structure of indian judiciary importance of laws

What is a Public Interest Litigation?

  1. Filing a case in the court in the interest of the public

  2. Reviewing of supreme court judgements

  3. Procedure of removal of a judge

  4. None of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation
Public interest litigation is not defined in any statute or in any act. It has been interpreted by judges to consider the intent of public at large. Although, the main and only focus of such litigation is only "Public Interest" there are various areas where a Public interest litigation can be filed. For e.g.
- Violation of basic human rights of the poor.
- Content or conduct of government policy.
- Compel municipal authorities to perform a public duty.
- Violation of religious rights or other basic fundamental rights.
Multiple choice political science understanding laws rural administration evolution and structure of indian judiciary importance of laws

Two features of Indian judicial system are ___________.

  1. Independent Judiciary

  2. Integrated Judiciary

  3. Dependent Judiciary

  4. Both (1) and (2)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Two features of Indian Judicial system are:-

  • Integrated Judiciary system - The Constitution establishes a single integrated judicial system for the whole of India. The Supreme Court of India is the highest court of the country and below it are the High Courts at the state level.
  • Independent Judiciary system - The Constitution of India makes judiciary truly independent. It provides for appointment of judges by the President, high qualification for appointment of judges, removal of judges by a difficult method of impeachment.

Multiple choice political science understanding laws rural administration evolution and structure of indian judiciary importance of laws

The Supreme Court in India has to work according to _________________.

  1. The wishes of President

  2. The instructions of the Prime Minister

  3. The Provisions of the Constitution

  4. The guidelines laid down by Parliment
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The Supreme Court in India has to work according to The Provisions of the Constitution. Article 137 of the Constitution of India lays down provision for power of the Supreme Court to review its own judgments. As per this Article, subject to the provisions of any law made by Parliament or any rules made under Article 145, the Supreme Court shall have power to review any judgment pronounced or order made by it.

Multiple choice political science understanding laws rural administration evolution and structure of indian judiciary importance of laws

Judiciary is one of three branches of modern governments. In some governments the principle of judicial supremacy is recognised in theory as well as in practice. It is because ____________.

  1. The judges possess knowledge of the laws

  2. The judges can help in making the laws

  3. There is no need to protect the rights of the citizens

  4. The judiciary is impartial and superior to other branches of the government as it interprets the constitution
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Judiciary is one of three branches of modern governments In some governments the principle of judicial supremacy is recognised in theory as well as in practice It is because the judiciary is impartial and superior to other branches of the government as it interprets the Constitution.

Multiple choice political science understanding laws rural administration evolution and structure of indian judiciary importance of laws

In the case of the writ of Mandamas the Court can _________.

  1. ask the person to be produced in the Court

  2. transfer the case from one court to another

  3. direct the Government to do or not to do a thing

  4. None of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Article 32 of the constitution empowers the Supreme Court and the High Court to issue following writs:

(1) Habeas Corpus
(2) Mandamus
(3) Prohibition
(4) Certiorari 
(5) Quo- Warranto

Mandamus - It literally means "We Command" This writ is thus a sort of command from a superior court to a subordinate court or an administrative authority in case they refuse to exercise their jurisdiction and fail to perform their duty.

Multiple choice political science understanding laws rural administration evolution and structure of indian judiciary importance of laws

Indian judiciary consists of __________.

  1. A Supreme Court

  2. High Courts in States

  3. District Courts and Local Courts

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

The Indian judiciary consists of a Supreme Court for the entire nation, High Courts in the states, District Courts and the courts at local level. India has an integrated judiciary. It means the Supreme Court controls the judicial administration in the country. Its decisions are binding on all other courts of the country.

Multiple choice political science understanding laws rural administration evolution and structure of indian judiciary importance of laws

How many courts are there at apex level?

  1. Three

  2. Two

  3. None

  4. One
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

There are three different levels of courts in our country. There are several courts at the lower level while there is only one at the apex level. The courts that most people interact with are what are called subordinate or district courts. The apex court in India is the Supreme Court.

Multiple choice political science understanding laws rural administration evolution and structure of indian judiciary importance of laws

Which court is at the apex level?

  1. High court

  2. District court

  3. Lower court

  4. Supreme Court
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The Supreme Court of India is the highest judicial forum and final court of appeal under the Constitution of India. Consisting of the Chief Justice of India and 30 other judges, it has extensive powers in the form of original, appellate and advisory jurisdictions.

Multiple choice political science understanding laws rural administration evolution and structure of indian judiciary importance of laws

For common people access to court is ______________.

  1. access to justice

  2. access to education

  3. access to equality

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

In principle, all citizens of India can access the courts in this country. This implies that every citizen has a right to justice through the courts. If any citizen believes that their rights are being violated, then they can approach the court for justice to be done. While the courts are available for all, in reality, access to courts has always been difficult for a vast majority of the poor in India.

Multiple choice political science understanding laws rural administration evolution and structure of indian judiciary importance of laws

'To increase access to justice' the Supreme Court devised __________.

  1. FIR

  2. PIL

  3. Both (a) & (b)

  4. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The Supreme Court in the early 1980s devised a mechanism of Public Interest Litigation or PIL to increase access to justice. It allowed any individual or organisation to file a PIL in the High Court or the Supreme Court on behalf of those whose rights were being violated. The legal process was greatly simplified and even a letter or telegram addressed to the Supreme Court or the High Court could be treated as a PIL.