UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Justice Varma case: inquiry panel submits probe report

Q1. With reference to the procedure under the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968 once a removal motion is admitted, consider the following statements: 1. The presiding officer of the House constitutes the inquiry committee. 2. The committee frames definite charges against the judge. 3. The judge is entitled to present a written defence to the charges. 4. A finding of 'misbehaviour' by the committee by itself removes the judge, without any vote of Parliament. Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. The presiding officer of the House constitutes the inquiry committee.
  2. The committee frames definite charges against the judge.
  3. The judge is entitled to present a written defence to the charges.
  4. A finding of 'misbehaviour' by the committee by itself removes the judge, without any vote of Parliament.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 2 and 4 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q2. The removal of a judge of a High Court from office is governed primarily by which constitutional provision?

  • A. Article 217 alone, which prescribes the tenure of High Court judges
  • B. Article 218, which makes the provisions of Article 124(4) and (5) applicable to High Court judges
  • C. Article 124(2), dealing with appointment of judges
  • D. Article 222, dealing with transfer of judges

Q3. Regarding the constitutional process for removal of a judge, consider the following statements: 1. The only permissible grounds are 'proved misbehaviour or incapacity'. 2. The removal motion must be passed by a special majority in each House separately. 3. A simple majority in a joint sitting of both Houses is sufficient to carry the removal. 4. The actual removal is effected by an order of the President. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The only permissible grounds are 'proved misbehaviour or incapacity'.
  2. The removal motion must be passed by a special majority in each House separately.
  3. A simple majority in a joint sitting of both Houses is sufficient to carry the removal.
  4. The actual removal is effected by an order of the President.
  • A. 3 only
  • B. 1 and 4
  • C. 2 and 3
  • D. 3 and 4

Q4. The internal (in-house) inquiry into the discovery of burnt currency notes at Justice Yashwant Varma's official residence was ordered in March 2025 under the authority of which functionary?

  • A. The Lok Sabha Speaker
  • B. The then Chief Justice of India, Sanjiv Khanna
  • C. The President of India
  • D. The Union Minister of Law and Justice

Q5. Comparing the in-house committee (2025) and the statutory committee in the Justice Varma matter, consider the following statements: 1. The in-house committee was composed of High Court Chief Justices and a High Court judge, whereas the statutory committee is presided over by a sitting Supreme Court judge. 2. The statutory committee was constituted by the Lok Sabha Speaker, unlike the in-house committee which was set up by the Chief Justice of India. 3. The report of the in-house committee is by itself sufficient to remove the judge, unlike that of the statutory committee. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The in-house committee was composed of High Court Chief Justices and a High Court judge, whereas the statutory committee is presided over by a sitting Supreme Court judge.
  2. The statutory committee was constituted by the Lok Sabha Speaker, unlike the in-house committee which was set up by the Chief Justice of India.
  3. The report of the in-house committee is by itself sufficient to remove the judge, unlike that of the statutory committee.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q6. The three-member statutory inquiry committee that submitted its report on Justice Yashwant Varma to the Lok Sabha Speaker was presided over by which of the following?

  • A. Justice Shree Chandrashekhar, Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court
  • B. Justice Aravind Kumar, a judge of the Supreme Court of India
  • C. B.V. Acharya, Senior Advocate
  • D. Justice Sheel Nagu, Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court

Q7. The statutory committee finalised its findings against Justice Varma 'ex parte' after he withdrew from the proceedings. In this context, 'ex parte' most precisely means:

  • A. Proceedings concluded in the absence of, and without the participation of, the judge concerned
  • B. Proceedings conducted jointly by both Houses of Parliament
  • C. Proceedings held in open court with full public access
  • D. Proceedings referred back to the Chief Justice of India for reconsideration

Q8. The 'in-house procedure' for inquiring into complaints against sitting judges of the higher judiciary derives its authority from which of the following?

  • A. The Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968
  • B. Article 124(5) of the Constitution
  • C. Resolutions/guidelines adopted by the Supreme Court itself, and not from any statute
  • D. The Contempt of Courts Act, 1971

Q9. Distinguishing the in-house procedure from the statutory inquiry under the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968, consider the following statements: 1. The in-house procedure is a non-statutory mechanism. 2. The statutory inquiry is triggered by an admitted parliamentary removal motion. 3. The in-house procedure can, by itself, remove a judge from office. 4. The in-house committee is constituted by the Chief Justice of India (or the relevant Chief Justice), not by a presiding officer of Parliament. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The in-house procedure is a non-statutory mechanism.
  2. The statutory inquiry is triggered by an admitted parliamentary removal motion.
  3. The in-house procedure can, by itself, remove a judge from office.
  4. The in-house committee is constituted by the Chief Justice of India (or the relevant Chief Justice), not by a presiding officer of Parliament.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 2 and 4
  • D. 1, 3 and 4

Q10. A notice of motion for the removal of a judge introduced in the Lok Sabha must be signed by the requisite number of members; the decision to admit or reject such a notice rests with which of the following?

  • A. The Union Minister of Law and Justice
  • B. The Speaker of the Lok Sabha
  • C. The Attorney-General for India
  • D. The Chief Justice of India

Q11. Regarding the tabling of the inquiry committee's report on Justice Varma and the steps thereafter, consider the following statements: 1. The Monsoon Session of Parliament in 2026 is scheduled from 20 July to 13 August. 2. The committee's report is to be laid before the Lok Sabha. 3. After the report is tabled, the removal motion must be adopted by a special majority in both Houses. 4. Once the report is tabled, the judge stands automatically removed without any further vote. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The Monsoon Session of Parliament in 2026 is scheduled from 20 July to 13 August.
  2. The committee's report is to be laid before the Lok Sabha.
  3. After the report is tabled, the removal motion must be adopted by a special majority in both Houses.
  4. Once the report is tabled, the judge stands automatically removed without any further vote.
  • A. 4 only
  • B. 1 and 2
  • C. 3 and 4
  • D. 2 only