UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — To strengthen the Supreme Court, divide it

Q1. With reference to the place where the Supreme Court of India sits, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Constitution itself names Delhi as the place where the Supreme Court shall sit.
  2. Parliament may, by an ordinary law, set up permanent benches of the Supreme Court in other cities without any decision by the Chief Justice of India.
  3. A decision of the Chief Justice of India that the Court shall sit at another place requires the approval of the President.
  • A. 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1 and 2 only

Q2. With reference to the special leave jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of India under Article 136, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. Special leave may be granted against a decision of any court or tribunal in India, and not merely against judgments of High Courts.
  2. Once a High Court refuses to certify a case as fit for appeal, the aggrieved party becomes entitled as of right to an appeal by special leave.
  3. Special leave may be granted against a sentence passed by a court-martial constituted under a law relating to the Armed Forces.
  4. Special leave may be granted against an order passed in a pending matter, and not only against a final judgment.
  • A. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • B. 1 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1 and 2 only

Q3. With reference to the composition and procedure of the Supreme Court of India, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. A reference made by the President seeking the Court's opinion under Article 143 must be heard by a bench of at least five judges.
  2. A bench of at least five judges is required in every appeal that turns on the interpretation of a central statute.
  3. Rules regulating the Court's practice and procedure take effect once adopted by the Full Court, without the approval of the President.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1 only

Q4. With reference to proposals to restructure the Supreme Court of India, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. A Supreme Court bench sitting in Kolkata under Article 130 would form a new tier of courts between the High Courts and the Supreme Court.
  2. Law declared by a Supreme Court bench sitting outside Delhi under Article 130 would bind all courts in India in the same way as a ruling delivered in Delhi.
  3. A separate Court of Appeal whose decisions are final in ordinary appeals cannot be created merely by the Chief Justice of India appointing another place of sitting under Article 130.
  • A. 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 1 and 3 only

Q5. With reference to Article 141 of the Constitution of India, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The law declared by the Supreme Court binds all courts within the territory of India, including the High Courts.
  2. Article 141 binds the Supreme Court to its own earlier decisions, so it cannot depart from a precedent once declared.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 2 only
  • C. Both 1 and 2
  • D. Neither 1 nor 2

Q6. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. One objection to spreading ordinary appeals across several regional benches of the Supreme Court is the risk of inconsistent rulings on the same question of law.
  2. Under Article 141, only law declared by a Constitution Bench of five or more judges of the Supreme Court is binding on the High Courts.
  • 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

Q7. Consider the following assertion: Benches of the Supreme Court in different regions of the country would advance the constitutional goal of equal access to justice. Which of the statements given below support/supports the above assertion?

  1. Litigants from regions far from Delhi bear higher travel and lawyer costs to pursue cases before the Supreme Court.
  2. The Constitution directs the State to ensure that opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen because of economic or other disabilities.
  3. The law declared by the Supreme Court is binding on all courts within the territory of India.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1 and 2 only