UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Pleas filed to use top court to ‘embarrass’ States, says SC

Q1. With reference to Public Interest Litigation (PIL) jurisprudence in India, consider the following statements: 1. PIL jurisdiction emerged in the late 1970s through a judicial relaxation of the rule of locus standi, permitting any public-spirited citizen to invoke Article 32 on behalf of disadvantaged groups. 2. In State of Uttaranchal v. Balwant Singh Chaufal (2010), the Supreme Court empowered courts to impose exemplary costs on PILs filed for oblique or extraneous motives. 3. PIL is expressly defined and regulated by a specific Article inserted into Part III of the Constitution by amendment. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. PIL jurisdiction emerged in the late 1970s through a judicial relaxation of the rule of locus standi, permitting any public-spirited citizen to invoke Article 32 on behalf of disadvantaged groups.
2. In State of Uttaranchal v. Balwant Singh Chaufal (2010), the Supreme Court empowered courts to impose exemplary costs on PILs filed for oblique or extraneous motives.
3. PIL is expressly defined and regulated by a specific Article inserted into Part III of the Constitution by amendment.

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 2 and 3 only
• C. 1 only
• D. 1, 2 and 3

Q2. With reference to the doctrine of Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in India, consider the following features: 1. Relaxed rule of locus standi permitting any bona fide citizen to file on behalf of disadvantaged sections. 2. Maintainability before the Supreme Court under Article 32 and before the High Courts under Article 226. 3. Pioneering articulation by Justices P.N. Bhagwati and V.R. Krishna Iyer in the late 1970s. 4. Explicit codification of PIL procedure through the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976. Which of the above is/are NOT correctly described?

1. Relaxed rule of locus standi permitting any bona fide citizen to file on behalf of disadvantaged sections.
2. Maintainability before the Supreme Court under Article 32 and before the High Courts under Article 226.
3. Pioneering articulation by Justices P.N. Bhagwati and V.R. Krishna Iyer in the late 1970s.
4. Explicit codification of PIL procedure through the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976.

• A. 1 and 3
• B. 2 and 4
• C. 4 only
• D. 3 and 4

Q3. With reference to landmark Supreme Court decisions that shaped the contours of Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in India, which of the following are correctly identified? 1. Hussainara Khatoon v. State of Bihar (1979) — foundational PIL concerning the plight of under-trial prisoners. 2. Vishaka v. State of Rajasthan (1997) — guidelines on prevention of sexual harassment of women at the workplace. 3. State of Uttaranchal v. Balwant Singh Chaufal (2010) — guidelines to curb misuse of PIL and authorising exemplary costs. 4. Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala (1973) — judgment that originated the doctrine of PIL in India. Which of the above are correctly identified?

1. Hussainara Khatoon v. State of Bihar (1979) — foundational PIL concerning the plight of under-trial prisoners.
2. Vishaka v. State of Rajasthan (1997) — guidelines on prevention of sexual harassment of women at the workplace.
3. State of Uttaranchal v. Balwant Singh Chaufal (2010) — guidelines to curb misuse of PIL and authorising exemplary costs.
4. Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala (1973) — judgment that originated the doctrine of PIL in India.

• A. 1, 2 and 3 only
• B. 2 and 4 only
• C. 1, 3 and 4 only
• D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q4. Justice Surya Kant, who in February 2026 deprecated the filing of petitions timed to coincide with State Assembly elections to 'embarrass' State governments, holds which ordinal position in the line of Chief Justices of India?

• A. 51st Chief Justice of India
• B. 52nd Chief Justice of India
• C. 53rd Chief Justice of India
• D. 54th Chief Justice of India

Q5. Which one of the following provisions of the Constitution of India constitutes the principal jurisdictional basis on which Public Interest Litigations are filed directly before the Supreme Court of India?

• A. Article 14
• B. Article 21
• C. Article 32
• D. Article 226