UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Imran Khan’s sister files contempt plea over violation of SC hospitalisation order

Q1. The Law Commission of India report that reviewed the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 and concluded that there was no requirement to amend the Act was chaired by which one of the following?

  • A. Justice A.P. Shah, a former Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court
  • B. Justice M. Jagannadha Rao, a former judge of the Supreme Court of India
  • C. Justice B.S. Chauhan, a former judge of the Supreme Court of India
  • D. Justice B.N. Srikrishna, a former judge of the Supreme Court of India

Q2. Consider the following statements comparing the two species of contempt and the sources of contempt power under Indian law: 1. Civil contempt consists of wilful disobedience of an order of any court, whereas criminal contempt covers acts or publications that scandalise the court, prejudice a judicial proceeding, or otherwise interfere with the administration of justice. 2. The Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 is the sole and exclusive source of the contempt power of the Supreme Court and the High Courts, and in the absence of that Act these courts would possess no power whatsoever to punish for contempt. 3. Apart from punishing contempt of itself, a High Court is also empowered to punish for contempt of courts subordinate to it. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Civil contempt consists of wilful disobedience of an order of any court, whereas criminal contempt covers acts or publications that scandalise the court, prejudice a judicial proceeding, or otherwise interfere with the administration of justice.
  2. The Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 is the sole and exclusive source of the contempt power of the Supreme Court and the High Courts, and in the absence of that Act these courts would possess no power whatsoever to punish for contempt.
  3. Apart from punishing contempt of itself, a High Court is also empowered to punish for contempt of courts subordinate to it.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q3. In Pakistan's judicial system, the Federal Constitutional Court set up in 2025 is best described as which one of the following?

  • A. The final appellate forum for civil and criminal appeals arising from the judgments of the provincial high courts
  • B. A forum that adjudicates constitutional matters and resolves disputes between provinces or between a province and the federal government
  • C. A forum that examines whether federal and provincial laws are repugnant to the injunctions of Islam and hears related constitutional petitions
  • D. A special bench of the apex court that hears constitutional petitions against convictions of civilians by military courts

Q4. With reference to the structure of the judiciary in Pakistan, consider the following: 1. The Federal Constitutional Court resolves disputes between provinces and between a province and the federal government. 2. The provincial high courts form part of the judiciary, and district and sessions courts function under their jurisdiction and supervision. 3. Within that subordinate hierarchy, district courts hear criminal cases while sessions courts hear civil cases. 4. Following a constitutional amendment of 2024, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court is appointed through a parliamentary process from among the three most senior judges of that court. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Federal Constitutional Court resolves disputes between provinces and between a province and the federal government.
  2. The provincial high courts form part of the judiciary, and district and sessions courts function under their jurisdiction and supervision.
  3. Within that subordinate hierarchy, district courts hear criminal cases while sessions courts hear civil cases.
  4. Following a constitutional amendment of 2024, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court is appointed through a parliamentary process from among the three most senior judges of that court.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2, 3 and 4
  • C. 1, 2 and 4
  • D. 1 and 3 only

Q5. The Supreme Court of Pakistan's interim order of 18 August 2026 concerning the jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan contained a set of directions. Which of the following was/were NOT among the directions issued in that order? 1. His shifting from prison to Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad, for examination and treatment 2. Facilitation of weekly meetings between him and his family members 3. Permission for telephone calls with his sons twice a week 4. Suspension of his sentence in the Toshakhana case for the duration of his hospital stay Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. His shifting from prison to Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad, for examination and treatment
  2. Facilitation of weekly meetings between him and his family members
  3. Permission for telephone calls with his sons twice a week
  4. Suspension of his sentence in the Toshakhana case for the duration of his hospital stay
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 2 and 3
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 1 and 4

Q6. Consider the following statements contrasting what the Supreme Court of Pakistan directed in August 2026 with what actually followed: 1. The order of 18 August 2026 directed the former Prime Minister's treatment at a state-run hospital, while the government pressed instead for his treatment at a private hospital. 2. The transfer was to be effected within two days of the order, and he was to remain at the hospital till the next date of hearing fixed for 16 September 2026. 3. Instead of the hospital named by the court, the authorities took him on the night of 20-21 August 2026 to the state-run Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad, and then returned him to Adiala Jail, following which a contempt petition was filed on 22 August 2026. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The order of 18 August 2026 directed the former Prime Minister's treatment at a state-run hospital, while the government pressed instead for his treatment at a private hospital.
  2. The transfer was to be effected within two days of the order, and he was to remain at the hospital till the next date of hearing fixed for 16 September 2026.
  3. Instead of the hospital named by the court, the authorities took him on the night of 20-21 August 2026 to the state-run Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad, and then returned him to Adiala Jail, following which a contempt petition was filed on 22 August 2026.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q7. India's engagement with Pakistan and its other South Asian neighbours is pursued partly through the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation. Which of the following is/are NOT Member States of SAARC? 1. Maldives 2. Myanmar 3. Bhutan 4. Mauritius Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. Maldives
  2. Myanmar
  3. Bhutan
  4. Mauritius
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 4 only

Q8. Which one of the following cities is the seat of the permanent Secretariat of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, inaugurated in January 1987?

  • A. Dhaka, where the association itself was launched in December 1985
  • B. Colombo, the largest commercial centre in the southern part of the region
  • C. Kathmandu, the capital of a landlocked founding member of the association
  • D. Thimphu, the capital of the smallest founding member by population

Q9. Consider the following statements about Rawalpindi, where Adiala Jail is located, and its neighbouring capital city: 1. Rawalpindi lies on the Potwar Plateau in Punjab province, about 14 km south-west of Islamabad, the two forming twin cities. 2. Rawalpindi served as the seat of Pakistan's government from 1959 to 1969, before the capital functions moved to Islamabad. 3. The site of Islamabad was selected by a commission in 1959 after Lahore was found unsuitable to continue as the national capital, and construction of the new city began in 1961. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Rawalpindi lies on the Potwar Plateau in Punjab province, about 14 km south-west of Islamabad, the two forming twin cities.
  2. Rawalpindi served as the seat of Pakistan's government from 1959 to 1969, before the capital functions moved to Islamabad.
  3. The site of Islamabad was selected by a commission in 1959 after Lahore was found unsuitable to continue as the national capital, and construction of the new city began in 1961.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q10. Which one of the following was Pakistan's first national capital, whose unsuitability led to the capital being moved to an interim seat at Rawalpindi in 1959?

  • A. Lahore, the historic provincial capital of Punjab
  • B. Karachi, the principal port city on the Arabian Sea
  • C. Peshawar, the gateway city near the Khyber Pass
  • D. Dhaka, the principal city of the then eastern wing

Q11. Consider the following statements about Imran Khan's political career and his present incarceration: 1. He founded the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf in 1996 and his party formed the government with him as Prime Minister in August 2018. 2. He was removed from office in April 2022 by a no-confidence vote, the first Pakistani Prime Minister to be so removed, and was succeeded by Shehbaz Sharif of the PML-N. 3. He has been imprisoned since August 2023, chiefly in the Al-Qadir Trust and Toshakhana cases, and is lodged in Kot Lakhpat Jail, Lahore. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. He founded the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf in 1996 and his party formed the government with him as Prime Minister in August 2018.
  2. He was removed from office in April 2022 by a no-confidence vote, the first Pakistani Prime Minister to be so removed, and was succeeded by Shehbaz Sharif of the PML-N.
  3. He has been imprisoned since August 2023, chiefly in the Al-Qadir Trust and Toshakhana cases, and is lodged in Kot Lakhpat Jail, Lahore.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 2 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q12. In India, the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 — the statute that lays down the procedure for punishing wilful disobedience of judicial orders — falls within the administrative charge of which one of the following?

  • A. The Department of Justice functioning under the Ministry of Home Affairs
  • B. The Department of Legal Affairs functioning under the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs
  • C. The Legislative Department functioning under the Ministry of Law and Justice
  • D. The Department of Personnel and Training functioning under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions