Law Legal Studies · Civics Polity

Legal Principles and Doctrines

2,603 Questions

Legal principles and doctrines establish the foundational rules of jurisprudence and civil rights. Questions cover constitutional reasonable restrictions, courtroom evidence standards, and property laws. These topics are strictly necessary for law legal studies exams and judicial services prelims.

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Legal Principles and Doctrines Questions

Multiple choice

Which one of the following is not related to Adjournment Motion?

  1. The matter is framed in general terms.

  2. The matter is urgent.

  3. The matter is of general public interest.

  4. The matter does not raise a question of privilege.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

An adjournment motion must be specific and relate to a single, definite matter of urgent public importance; it cannot be framed in general terms.

Multiple choice

When does an individual not accept authority?

  1. He understands the communication

  2. He believes that the order is not inconsistent with rules

  3. He is mentally and physically able to comply with an order

  4. The order is incombustible with his personal interest
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

According to Chester Barnard's Acceptance Theory of Authority, an individual rejects authority if the order is incompatible with their personal interests or the organization's goals.

Multiple choice

You are the head of a committee which selects and presents a cash award and citation to young achievers in field of community welfare and social work. The proposed names for awards are first processed by a screening committee, which ascertains the facts and finalises the nominations. The committee deciding the award (headed by you) evaluates these nominations and then decides whom to award. You receive a complaint that the claim of social work by the winner of the last award was false. The work was actually done by somebody else which the awardee claimed as his own. Some photographs and old media reports have been furnished from which, prima facie, the allegation appears to be correct. Which of the following courses of action would you adopt?

  1. Ask the awardee to return the award and tender an apology

  2. Seek the explanation of the awardee

  3. Ask the screening committee to examine the allegation, if need be seek comments of the awardee, and then furnish its report

  4. Take no action as the matter is old and no purpose would be served by digging up such matters; besides it would compromise upon the prestige of the award
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

2.5 marks for Option (c) 1.5 marks for Option (b) 0 marks for both Option (a) or Option (d) Rationale/ Reasoning Option ‘c’ is the best course of action. The screening committee which had ascertained the facts should first be asked to look into them. It is possible that the complaint is false and the evidence concocted. In such a case seeking explanation directly from the awardee would be embarrassing to the committee as well as the awardee. In case the complaint has merit, then the screening committee can seek explanation of the awardee and then recommend rejection of the complaint or withdrawal of the award. Option (b) is a premature act as highlighted above. However it is better than taking no action at all (Option d) or summarily demanding the surrender of award (Option a). Principal/Value Tested Appreciation of probity and transparency in public life Balance of judgement  

Multiple choice

You are a police authority in a district where you receive information about a proposed procession by a student’s union in the university. The students are protesting against certain policies of the government which affect the students. Personally you are sympathetic and even supportive of the demands of the students. But you have been approached by the local M.L.A. who wants the proposed procession to be prohibited. This is so, as he suspects that the opposition parties are instigating the students to bring out the procession. He wants the students union leaders to be taken in preventive custody. The university authorities have also requested you not to permit the procession as it will embarrass them. However, the union leaders assure you that the procession will be peaceful. In such a situation you would;

  1. pass orders banning the procession and take union leaders in preventive custody.

  2. permit the procession after taking a written assurance from the union leaders that procession is going to be peaceful. This will be in consonance with your own views as you perceive the demand to be justified.

  3. persuade the union leaders to drop the procession and instead make a written representation to the authorities concerned.

  4. permit the procession but deploy suitable number of police personnel to prevent any law and order breach from taking place.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

2.5 marks for option (d) 2.0 marks for option (c) 1 mark for option (b) 0 marks for option (a) Rationale/Reasoning (d) ‘Peaceful assembly without arms’ is a fundamental right enshrined in the Constitution. As such a peaceful procession should be permitted unless it is likely to jeopardize the law and order situation. To prevent any law and order breach from taking place, suitable number of police personnel need to be deployed. As such option (d) is the best course of action. (c) Trying to convince the protesters to give up procession and adopt the path of written representation is ideologically sound. But it has practical limitations. The protesters may have already exhausted the option of written representation or might be considering it to be futile. As such option (c) may or may not work. The time and effort lost in persuasion may only end up squeezing the time left with you for making suitable deployment of police force. (b) Permitting the procession with written assurance may be risky. The situation may get out of control of the student union leaders even if the assurance is well meaning. Accordingly, deployment of police force is essential. Besides, even the righteousness of cause, or your personal belief in the issue, cannot permit you to compromise on your official duty. As such option (b) in itself cannot be a sufficient course of action, but can only be a supplement to option (d). (a) Prohibiting the procession or taking union leaders in preventive custody without a substantive basis would be incorrect and also stifling of the fundamental rights. Values/Principles tested  Balance of judgment Discharge of official duties without any personal bias or extraneous influences

Multiple choice

You are inquiring about the charges of corruption against a senior officer who was the predecessor of your boss. Your boss has called you and asked you to drop the charges and close the files. What will be your response?

  1. Comply with what your boss has asked you to do and close the file, thus earn his good will.

  2. Examine the charges and evidence against the officer and submit your report thus risking displeasure of your boss.

  3. Put up the file before your boss but leave the decision of continuing further inquiry, on him.

  4. Defer the decision on file hoping to take action when your boss changes is transferred from the present post.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

2.5 marks for answer (b) 1.5 marks for answer (d) 1 mark for answer (c) 0 marks for answer (a) Rationale/ Reasoning (b) Taking a decision on merits despite pressures/ influence is the best course of action. (d) Defering the decision hoping that your boss changes/ is transferred, is the next best option. But it will delay the proceedings. This also shows that you are not ready to bite the bullet. (c) Putting up the file by stating the correct facts is fine but not making any recommendation may weaken the case and leave things to the discretion of the biased person. (a) Succumbing to pressure of superiors in a matter where you can be faulted later is a poor option and also against the rules. Hence option ‘a’ is an improper choice. Principles/ Values tested     Whether you discharge your duties as per merits and rules without being unduly influenced.

Multiple choice

As an editor of a leading newspaper you receive a complaint from a government officer, who claims that his name was wrongly dragged in a news report about a scam. He states that he was not posted in the concerned department during the period of the purported scam and joined it much later. He is anguished by the damage done to his reputation and threatens to take legal action. You verify facts from your news team and the government department concerned and find that indeed he was posted there much later. In such a situation you would;

  1. print a rejoinder in the next day’s newspaper regretting the mistake and offering apology.

  2. personally visit the person and apologise to him as apology in the newspaper is likely to tarnish the reputation of the newspaper built over the years.

  3. put pressure on him through informal but influential channels not to drag the issue further.

  4. take no action at present but wait for him to issue a legal notice.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

2.5 marks for option (a) 1 mark for option (b) 0 marks for option (c) or (b) Rationale/ Reasoning (a) Clearing the name of person and accepting the mistake of the newspaper is the best course of action. It reflects that you believe in justice and acknowledge errors committed by your team. While the mistake in itself may cause a dent to the image of the newspaper, accepting it will show that the newspaper believes in values and ethics. (b) Personal apology does not redeem the loss of prestige in public, although the individuals feeling may be assuaged. (d) Waiting for legal action to be initiated is a brazen approach reflective of lack of sensitivity towards loss of an individual’s prestige. (c) Option ‘c’ is not only non acceptance of a mistake already done, but an attempt to cover it up by another folly. Principles/ Values tested   Upholding justice in public domain and having courage of admission of a mistake

Multiple choice

Your immdediate supervisory authority had taken some decisions regarding the setting up of a project which has run into heavy revenue losses. The higher authorities have set up a three member committee to enquire into the matter which has called you for your deposition. Your boss wants you to justify the stand taken by him. He is likely to remain your boss for at least one more year. You would,

  1. justify the decision of your supervisory authority and bail him out.

  2. outrightly criticise his decisions as in the past he has been rude and harsh with you.

  3. give a fair account of what had happened, which is likely to result in his implication, but is surely to adversely affect your personal relations with him.

  4. give an ambivalent reply showing your lack of specific knowledge of the subject and thus save you the embarrassment of implicating your boss and also save you from being further dragged as a witness against your boss.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Rationale/ Reasoning Giving a correct deposition is the best course of action. This is essential as truth must be upheld. Besides, you could also be implicated with your boss if you do not give a truthful deposition.  Giving an ambivalent reply may save you from the embarrassment of implicating your boss, but reflects your lack of desire to uphold the truth.

Principles/ Values tested Conviction and desire to uphold the truth despite odds.

Multiple choice

What does omission mean according to Section 31 of IPC?

  1. Omit something

  2. Different omission as a single omission

  3. Series of omission as a single omission

  4. Series of omission as different omission.

  5. /
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Omission denotes a series of omission as a single omission.