Civics Polity · Law Legal Studies

Judiciary and Legal Systems

1,782 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

In which of the following cases was it observed by the Supreme court that precedent should not be petrified nor judicial dicta divorced from the socio-economic mores of the age?

  1. Mamleshwar Vs. Kanahaiya Lal

  2. Bengal Immunity Company Ltd. Vs. State of Bihar

  3. State of West Bengal Vs. Corporation of Calcutta

  4. K. C. Dora Vs. G. Annamanaidu
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

In Bengal Immunity Company Ltd. Vs. State of Bihar, it was observed by the Supreme Court that precedent should not be petrified nor judicial dicta divorced from the socio-economic mores of the age. 

Multiple choice

Arrange the following cases in the chronological order on the basis of the year in which they have been decided by the Supreme Court on Public Trust doctrine under Environment law. Answer using the codes given below:

I. M. C. Mehta Vs. Kamal Nath II. M. I. Builders Pvt. Ltd. Vs. Radhey Shyam Sahu III. Hinch Lal Tiwari Vs. Kamala Devi IV. Intellectual Forum, Thirupathi Vs. State of Andhra Pradesh

  1. IV, III, I, II

  2. III, II, IV, I

  3. III, I, IV, II

  4. I, II, III, IV
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

I.     M. C. Mehta Vs. Kamal Nath, 1996 II.    M. I. Builders Pvt. Ltd. Vs. Radhey Shyam Sahu, 1999 III.   Hinch Lal Tiwari Vs. Kamala Devi, 2001 IV.  Intellectual Forum, Thirupathi Vs. State of Andhra Pradesh, 2006

Multiple choice

In which among the following cases does the Supreme Court decide that the right of eligible employees to be considered for promotion is virtually a part of the fundamental right of employees?

  1. Union of India Vs. Hemraj Singh Chauhan

  2. Supreme Court Employees Association Vs. Union of India

  3. John Vallamattam Vs. Union of India

  4. St. Stephens College Vs. University of Delhi
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The right of eligible employees to be considered for promotion is virtually a part of their fundamental right guaranteed under Article 16 (Equality of opportunity in matter of public employment) of the Constitution, a bench comprising Justices R. V. Raveendran and A. K. Ganguly held in a recent judgement, Union of India Vs. Hemraj Singh Chauhan.

Multiple choice

In Vishram Singh Raghubanshi Vs. State of Uttar Pradesh (AIR2011 SC2275), the court held that

  1. it is the duty of superior courts to protect the reputation of judicial officers of subordinate courts

  2. procedure be laid down in the appointment of officers of subordinate courts

  3. procedure be laid down in the salaries and service conditions of the judicial officers of the lower judiciary

  4. the judges of the High Court be transferred
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The superior courts have a duty to protect the reputation of judicial officers of subordinate courts, taking note of the growing tendency of maligning the reputation of judicial officers by unscrupulous practising advocates who either fail to secure desired orders or do not succeed in browbeating for achieving ulterior purpose.

Multiple choice

'Reference' under section 113 of the Code of Civil Procedure implies that the subordinate court refers the case to the High Court for the latter’s opinion on a

  1. question of law

  2. question of evidence

  3. question of fact

  4. question of court procedure

  5. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Under section 113 of Code of Civil Procedure, any court may state a case and refer the same for the opinion of the High Court, where the court, before which a case is pending, is satisfied that a case pending before it involves a question as to validity of any act.

Multiple choice

In case of difference of opinion amongst the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners in the Election Commission of India

  1. the matter is to be referred to the Supreme Court of India

  2. the opinion of the Chief Election Commissioner is final

  3. the matter is to be referred to the Law Commission

  4. the matter is decided by the Election Commission by majority
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

According to Article 324(2) of the Constitution and the Election Commission (Conditions of Service of Election Commissioners) Act, 1991, the Election Commission functions as a multi-member body where decisions are made by majority vote. The Chief Election Commissioner does not have veto power, and the matter is not referred to the Supreme Court or Law Commission in case of differences.

Multiple choice

Assertion (A):The District Collector in independent India has less judicial authority than in pre-Independent India.

Reason (R):Article 50 of the Constitution of India separates the Judiciary from the Executive.

  1. Both A and R are individually true and R is the correct explanation of A

  2. Both A and R are individually true but R is not the correct explanation of A

  3. A is true but R is false

  4. A is false but R is true
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The District Collector in British India exercised extensive judicial powers as a magistrate and revenue collector. In independent India, Article 50 of the Constitution directs the State to take steps to separate the judiciary from the executive in the public services of the State. This constitutional directive has led to significant reduction in the Collector's judicial authority through various judicial reforms and the establishment of separate judicial magistracy.

Multiple choice

In which case did the Supreme Court observe that “the courts must forever remain alive to the international instruments/conventions and apply the same to a given case where there is no inconsistency between the international norms and the domestic law occupying the field”?

  1. Jolly George Verghese Vs. Bank of Cochin

  2. A. D. M. Jabalpur Vs. Shivakant Shukla

  3. Francis Coralie Mullin Vs. Adm. UT of Delhi

  4. Apparel Export Promotion Council Vs. A. K. Chopra
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

In Apparel Export Promotion Council Vs. A. K. Chopra, the Supreme Court observed that the courts must forever remain alive to the international instruments/conventions and apply the same to a given case where there is no inconsistency between the international norms and the domestic law occupying the field.

Multiple choice

It may be said that administrative law deals with

  1. transfer of power by the legislature to the administrative agencies

  2. exercise of power by the administrative agencies

  3. judicial review of administrative action

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

Scope of administrative law is transfer of power, exercise of power by the legislature and judicial review of administrative action.

Multiple choice

NJDG is a judicial initiative instituted by the Supreme Court of India as a process of judicial reforms in India. What does NJDG stand for?

  1. National Judicial Directives & Goals

  2. National Judicial Directives Generation

  3. National Judicial Data Grid

  4. National Judgments & Directions Group

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

NJDG stands for National Judicial Data Grid, a comprehensive database of pending and decided cases in district and subordinate courts, and High Courts in India. It was launched by the Supreme Court in 2015 to bring transparency and reduce pendency.

Multiple choice

In August 2007, the Chennai High Court passed a landmark judgment that may have far-reaching consequences on the pharmaceuticals industry, dismissing a writ petition filed by

  1. Ranbaxy

  2. Sandoz

  3. Novartis

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

The Chennai High Court in August 2007 dismissed Novartis's writ petition challenging the rejection of its patent application for the cancer drug Glivec. This landmark judgment upheld India's patent law and had major implications for affordable medicine access.