UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Why make litigants rush to SC for early hearings, CJI asks HCs

Q1. With reference to the power of superintendence under Article 227 of the Constitution of India, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. It extends to courts and tribunals constituted under laws relating to the Armed Forces that function within the High Court's territorial jurisdiction.
  2. It extends to tribunals, and not merely to courts, functioning within the High Court's territorial jurisdiction.
  3. Rules made by a High Court to regulate the practice and proceedings of the courts under its superintendence require the previous approval of the Governor.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 3 only
  • D. 2 and 3 only

Q2. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. A High Court may call for returns from, and make general rules regulating the practice of, the courts and tribunals within its territorial jurisdiction.
  2. The Constitution vests in the Supreme Court a power of superintendence over all High Courts, which each High Court in turn exercises over the courts below it.
  • A. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
  • B. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
  • C. Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
  • D. Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

Q3. With reference to the 'Master of the Roster' principle in India's higher judiciary, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Within a High Court, constituting benches and allocating categories of cases to them is the prerogative of that High Court's Chief Justice.
  2. As Master of the Roster of the Supreme Court, the Chief Justice of India may also reassign cases among the benches of any High Court.
  3. A High Court's authority over its own roster flows from its status as a constitutional court, not from any delegation by the Supreme Court.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 2 and 3 only

Q4. With reference to the writ jurisdiction of the Supreme Court under Article 32 and of the High Courts under Article 226, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. A High Court can issue writs to enforce legal rights other than Fundamental Rights, whereas the Supreme Court's writ power under Article 32(2) is confined to enforcing Fundamental Rights.
  2. Article 226 opens with a non-obstante reference to Article 32, so the High Courts' writ power exists independently of the Supreme Court's.
  3. Since a High Court's writ jurisdiction is wider, a person must first file a petition under Article 226 before approaching the Supreme Court under Article 32.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3
  • C. 1 and 2 only
  • D. 2 and 3 only

Q5. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. The Supreme Court can grant special leave to appeal under Article 136 even in a matter where the governing statute provides no right of appeal to the Supreme Court.
  2. Article 136 does not extend to judgments or orders of courts or tribunals constituted under any law relating to the Armed Forces.
  • A. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
  • B. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
  • C. Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
  • D. Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

Q6. With reference to how the number of judges of a High Court in India is determined, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The number of judges of a High Court is determined by the President and may differ from one High Court to another.
  2. The sanctioned strength of each High Court is fixed by a law of Parliament, in the same way as that of the Supreme Court.
  3. The Legislature of a State may enlarge the sanctioned strength of its High Court by passing an ordinary law.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 2 only

Q7. With reference to the sitting of retired judges in High Courts under Article 224A of the Constitution of India, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The person requested need not have served as a judge of the same High Court; a former judge of any other High Court is also eligible.
  2. Once the President has given previous consent, the retired judge requested is bound to sit and act as a judge of that High Court.
  3. While sitting, such a person has all the jurisdiction, powers and privileges of a judge of that High Court but is not otherwise deemed to be one.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 3 only
  • D. 1 and 3 only

Q8. With reference to the provisions for supplementing the judicial strength of a High Court, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Additional judges may be appointed by the President when there is a temporary increase in the business of a High Court or an accumulation of arrears.
  2. An acting judge may be appointed when a permanent judge, other than the Chief Justice, is unable to perform the duties of office or is appointed to act temporarily as Chief Justice.
  3. Like a retired judge sitting under Article 224A, an additional judge is not deemed to be a judge of the High Court to which he or she is appointed.
  • A. 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 1 only