UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Delhi HC to hear plea against surveillance of CJP protest

Q1. Of the freedoms guaranteed under Article 19(1), which one is the freedom most directly invoked to protect the right to hold a peaceful sit-in or dharna such as the CJP protest?

  • A. The right to assemble peaceably and without arms [Article 19(1)(b)]
  • B. The freedom of speech and expression [Article 19(1)(a)]
  • C. The right to form associations or unions [Article 19(1)(c)]
  • D. The right to move freely throughout the territory of India [Article 19(1)(d)]

Q2. In the context of Article 21, the expression 'procedure established by law' is best described as which one of the following?

  • A. A person may be deprived of life or personal liberty only in accordance with a procedure laid down by validly enacted law, which the courts additionally require to be fair, just and reasonable
  • B. The American 'due process of law' standard, imported verbatim, under which courts test the substantive justness of every law
  • C. A power of the executive to curtail liberty through administrative orders even without any backing law
  • D. A guarantee that life and liberty can never be curtailed by the State under any circumstances

Q3. In K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India (2017), which one of the following did the bench identify as the primary constitutional source of the right to privacy?

  • A. Article 21 — protection of life and personal liberty
  • B. Article 19 alone, from which privacy flows exclusively
  • C. The Preamble alone, as the sole fountainhead of the right
  • D. Article 300A — the right to property

Q4. The Puttaswamy (2017) judgment laid down a test that any State intrusion into privacy must satisfy. With reference to this test, consider the following requirements: 1. The restriction must be sanctioned by a valid law (legality). 2. The restriction must serve a legitimate State aim. 3. The means adopted must be proportionate to the object sought to be achieved. 4. The measure must first be ratified by Parliament through a special majority. Which of the above is/are correctly identified as requirements of the test?

  1. The restriction must be sanctioned by a valid law (legality).
  2. The restriction must serve a legitimate State aim.
  3. The means adopted must be proportionate to the object sought to be achieved.
  4. The measure must first be ratified by Parliament through a special majority.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1, 2 and 4
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 3 and 4

Q5. The continuous videography and photography of the CJP sit-in that is challenged in the PIL before the Delhi High Court is alleged to be carried out by which one of the following?

  • A. Delhi Police
  • B. New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC)
  • C. Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)
  • D. National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB)

Q6. The plea filed by Aishe Ghosh before the Delhi High Court is described as a Public Interest Litigation (PIL). A PIL is best defined as which one of the following?

  • A. Litigation initiated in a court for the protection of a public interest, in which the strict rule of locus standi is relaxed so that any bona fide person may approach the court on behalf of affected persons
  • B. A private civil suit between two named parties for enforcement of a contractual right
  • C. A criminal complaint that can be filed only by the aggrieved victim personally
  • D. An appeal that lies only from a lower court to a higher court on a substantial question of law

Q7. As per the guidelines regulating protests at Jantar Mantar, the maximum number of persons permitted to assemble at the site at any given time is:

  • A. 200
  • B. 500
  • C. 1,000
  • D. 5,000

Q8. The blanket ban on dharnas and protests at Jantar Mantar was lifted in 2018 by which one of the following authorities, which held that there cannot be an 'absolute' ban on protests at such sites?

  • A. The Supreme Court of India
  • B. The National Green Tribunal (NGT)
  • C. The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC)
  • D. The Delhi High Court

Q9. Consider the following statements comparing the restriction regime applicable to the freedom of assembly: 1. The power to prohibit an assembly, earlier exercised under Section 144 of the CrPC, is now contained in Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. 2. Reasonable restrictions on the freedom of assembly under Article 19(1)(b) may be imposed in the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India and public order. 3. Unlike the freedom of speech, the freedom of assembly under Article 19(1)(b) is available to non-citizens as well. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The power to prohibit an assembly, earlier exercised under Section 144 of the CrPC, is now contained in Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.
  2. Reasonable restrictions on the freedom of assembly under Article 19(1)(b) may be imposed in the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India and public order.
  3. Unlike the freedom of speech, the freedom of assembly under Article 19(1)(b) is available to non-citizens as well.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q10. In the context of restrictions on fundamental freedoms under Article 19, the expression 'public order' is best understood as:

  • A. A state of public tranquillity and absence of disorder affecting the community or the public at large
  • B. Any breach of peace or disturbance between two individuals, however localized
  • C. A threat grave enough to endanger the very existence or security of the State
  • D. Any act that a private citizen personally finds offensive or objectionable

Q11. The Delhi High Court's power to entertain the present writ petition and to issue writs against the Delhi Police is derived from which one of the following provisions of the Constitution?

  • A. Article 226
  • B. Article 32
  • C. Article 136
  • D. Article 227

Q12. With reference to the deployment of facial recognition and mass surveillance by the police in India, consider the following statements: 1. Delhi Police has deployed a Facial Recognition System (FRS) cross-referenced with NCRB databases at large public events. 2. The Internet Freedom Foundation has questioned the legal basis of police facial-recognition deployment. 3. Facial recognition technology was reported to have been used to identify persons present at the anti-CAA/NRC protests. 4. India has enacted a dedicated statute specifically authorising and regulating police use of facial recognition technology in public spaces. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. Delhi Police has deployed a Facial Recognition System (FRS) cross-referenced with NCRB databases at large public events.
  2. The Internet Freedom Foundation has questioned the legal basis of police facial-recognition deployment.
  3. Facial recognition technology was reported to have been used to identify persons present at the anti-CAA/NRC protests.
  4. India has enacted a dedicated statute specifically authorising and regulating police use of facial recognition technology in public spaces.
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 4 only
  • C. 2 and 4
  • D. 3 only