UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Justice Varma resigns amid proceedings for removal

Q1. In the procedure for the removal of a Judge of the Supreme Court or a High Court, the final order actually removing the judge from office is issued by which one of the following?

  • A. The President of India
  • B. The Chief Justice of India
  • C. The Speaker of the Lok Sabha
  • D. The Vice-President of India

Q2. Under the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968, the Committee constituted to investigate the charges against a judge whose removal has been sought consists of how many members?

  • A. Three
  • B. Five
  • C. Two
  • D. Seven

Q3. Once a motion for the removal of a judge is admitted, the three-member Committee to investigate the charges under the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968 is constituted by which one of the following?

  • A. The Speaker of the Lok Sabha or the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, as the case may be
  • B. The President of India
  • C. The Chief Justice of India
  • D. The Union Council of Ministers

Q4. In the context of the action taken against Justice Yashwant Varma, the term 'repatriation' of a High Court judge refers to which one of the following?

  • A. His transfer back to his parent High Court
  • B. His elevation to the Supreme Court
  • C. His suspension from judicial work pending inquiry
  • D. The recall of a retired judge to active service

Q5. With reference to the sequence of events in the Justice Yashwant Varma cash-recovery matter, consider the following statements: 1. At the time of the fire and the cash discovery in March 2025, Justice Varma was serving as a judge of the Delhi High Court. 2. After the incident he was repatriated to his parent court, the Allahabad High Court. 3. The Supreme Court's in-house inquiry panel that examined the allegations was headed by the Chief Justice of India in person. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. At the time of the fire and the cash discovery in March 2025, Justice Varma was serving as a judge of the Delhi High Court.
  2. After the incident he was repatriated to his parent court, the Allahabad High Court.
  3. The Supreme Court's in-house inquiry panel that examined the allegations was headed by the Chief Justice of India in person.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q6. With reference to the Supreme Court's in-house procedure for judicial misconduct as compared with the parliamentary removal process, consider the following statements: 1. The in-house procedure was evolved by the Supreme Court itself and adopted in 1999, whereas parliamentary removal is governed by the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968. 2. A finding of guilt under the in-house procedure can, by itself, result in the removal of the judge from office. 3. Unlike the removal process under Articles 124 and 218, the in-house procedure has no express basis in the Constitution or in a statute. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The in-house procedure was evolved by the Supreme Court itself and adopted in 1999, whereas parliamentary removal is governed by the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968.
  2. A finding of guilt under the in-house procedure can, by itself, result in the removal of the judge from office.
  3. Unlike the removal process under Articles 124 and 218, the in-house procedure has no express basis in the Constitution or in a statute.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q7. The Supreme Court's in-house inquiry mechanism to examine allegations of misconduct against a sitting judge of the higher judiciary is set in motion and operationalised by which one of the following?

  • A. The Chief Justice of India
  • B. The Union Ministry of Law and Justice
  • C. The Speaker of the Lok Sabha
  • D. The National Judicial Appointments Commission