UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — SC Collegium picks new Chief Justice for Rajasthan High Court

Q1. With reference to the judgments and opinions collectively known as the Three Judges Cases, consider the following: 1. The 1981 decision held that the President could decline to accept the recommendation of the Chief Justice of India in a judicial appointment. 2. The 1993 decision held that the advice tendered by the Chief Justice of India, formed in consultation with the two judges next in seniority, is binding on the President. 3. The 1998 opinion was rendered by a nine-judge Bench on a Presidential reference and enlarged the consultative body to the Chief Justice of India and the four senior-most judges. 4. The 1998 opinion overruled the 1993 judgment and restored the primacy of the executive in the transfer of High Court judges. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. The 1981 decision held that the President could decline to accept the recommendation of the Chief Justice of India in a judicial appointment.
  2. The 1993 decision held that the advice tendered by the Chief Justice of India, formed in consultation with the two judges next in seniority, is binding on the President.
  3. The 1998 opinion was rendered by a nine-judge Bench on a Presidential reference and enlarged the consultative body to the Chief Justice of India and the four senior-most judges.
  4. The 1998 opinion overruled the 1993 judgment and restored the primacy of the executive in the transfer of High Court judges.
  • A. 1 and 4 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • D. 2, 3 and 4 only

Q2. Consider the following statements regarding the collegium system as it stands today: 1. For appointments to the Supreme Court, the collegium consists of the Chief Justice of India and the four senior-most judges of the Supreme Court. 2. For recommending appointments to a High Court, the Supreme Court collegium consists of the Chief Justice of India and the two senior-most judges of the Supreme Court. 3. The constitutional amendment and the statute creating the National Judicial Appointments Commission were struck down by the Supreme Court in 2015, and the collegium was thereby revived. 4. The collegium system was created for the first time by the 1981 judgment in S.P. Gupta v. Union of India. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. For appointments to the Supreme Court, the collegium consists of the Chief Justice of India and the four senior-most judges of the Supreme Court.
  2. For recommending appointments to a High Court, the Supreme Court collegium consists of the Chief Justice of India and the two senior-most judges of the Supreme Court.
  3. The constitutional amendment and the statute creating the National Judicial Appointments Commission were struck down by the Supreme Court in 2015, and the collegium was thereby revived.
  4. The collegium system was created for the first time by the 1981 judgment in S.P. Gupta v. Union of India.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 2 only
  • C. 2 and 4 only
  • D. 4 only

Q3. If a question arises as to the age of a sitting judge of a High Court, whose decision on that question is declared final by Article 217 of the Constitution?

  • A. The Chief Justice of India, whose opinion in all such matters is binding and conclusive
  • B. The President, after consultation with the Chief Justice of India
  • C. The Governor of the State concerned, acting on the advice of the Chief Justice of the High Court
  • D. The Supreme Court collegium, whose unanimous view is conclusive in every such reference

Q4. Consider the following statements about the constitutional provisions relating to High Courts: 1. Article 222 provides for the transfer of a judge from one High Court to another. 2. Article 223 provides for the appointment of an acting Chief Justice of a High Court. 3. Article 224 provides for the appointment of additional and acting judges, who may continue in office until they attain the age of sixty-five years. 4. Article 217 requires that a judge of a High Court be appointed by the President exclusively on the recommendation of the Governor of the State, whose advice is binding in every case. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Article 222 provides for the transfer of a judge from one High Court to another.
  2. Article 223 provides for the appointment of an acting Chief Justice of a High Court.
  3. Article 224 provides for the appointment of additional and acting judges, who may continue in office until they attain the age of sixty-five years.
  4. Article 217 requires that a judge of a High Court be appointed by the President exclusively on the recommendation of the Governor of the State, whose advice is binding in every case.
  • A. 1 and 4 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3 only

Q5. As settled by the advisory opinion of 1998, how many judges in all constitute the Supreme Court collegium that recommends appointments to the Supreme Court?

  • A. Three — the Chief Justice of India and the two senior-most judges
  • B. Four — the Chief Justice of India and the three senior-most judges
  • C. Five — the Chief Justice of India and the four senior-most judges
  • D. Nine — the Chief Justice of India and the eight senior-most judges

Q6. Under the Supreme Court's order on supplementing the Memorandum of Procedure, a decision of the Chief Justice of India on a recommendation for judicial appointment is to be founded on which one of the following?

  • A. The unanimous view of the collegium of the four senior-most judges
  • B. A simple majority view of the collegium recorded by circulation of files
  • C. The concurrence of the Union Minister of Law and Justice and the Department of Justice
  • D. The recommendation forwarded by the Chief Justice of the High Court concerned

Q7. With reference to the Supreme Court Collegium resolution of 31 August 2026 concerning the Rajasthan High Court, consider the following statements: 1. The Collegium that made the recommendation was headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant. 2. Justice Sanjay K. Agrawal, recommended as Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court, was at that time a judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court. 3. The recommendation followed allegations of 'favouritism' and misconduct against the Acting Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court, Justice S.P. Sharma. 4. Those allegations were raised by the collegium of the Rajasthan High Court in a formal reference to the Union Ministry of Law and Justice. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The Collegium that made the recommendation was headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant.
  2. Justice Sanjay K. Agrawal, recommended as Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court, was at that time a judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court.
  3. The recommendation followed allegations of 'favouritism' and misconduct against the Acting Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court, Justice S.P. Sharma.
  4. Those allegations were raised by the collegium of the Rajasthan High Court in a formal reference to the Union Ministry of Law and Justice.
  • A. 2 and 4 only
  • B. 4 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 3 and 4 only

Q8. In respect of Justice Sanjay K. Agrawal, how many distinct recommendations did the Collegium's resolution of 31 August 2026 make, and what were they?

  • A. One — his appointment as Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court
  • B. Two — his appointment as Chief Justice, and his immediate transfer to that High Court
  • C. Three — his transfer, his appointment as Chief Justice, and his elevation to the Supreme Court
  • D. Four — his transfer, his appointment, his oath of office and the filling of his parent High Court vacancy

Q9. The Supreme Court Collegium resolution of 31 August 2026 recommended Chief Justices for how many High Courts?

  • A. Two — Rajasthan, and Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh
  • B. Three — Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh
  • C. Four — Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh
  • D. Five — Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, and Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh

Q10. Consider the following statements comparing the three Chief Justice recommendations made by the Supreme Court Collegium on 31 August 2026: 1. Justice Alpesh Yeshvant Kogje, recommended for the Madhya Pradesh High Court, was serving as a judge of the Gujarat High Court. 2. Justice Dr. Pushpendra Singh Bhati, recommended for the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court, was serving as a judge of the Rajasthan High Court. 3. Unlike the other two recommendations, the recommendation for the Rajasthan High Court proposed elevating a judge already serving in that very High Court. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Justice Alpesh Yeshvant Kogje, recommended for the Madhya Pradesh High Court, was serving as a judge of the Gujarat High Court.
  2. Justice Dr. Pushpendra Singh Bhati, recommended for the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court, was serving as a judge of the Rajasthan High Court.
  3. Unlike the other two recommendations, the recommendation for the Rajasthan High Court proposed elevating a judge already serving in that very High Court.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q11. Consider the following statements comparing the mechanisms available when misconduct is alleged against a judge of a High Court: 1. The Supreme Court's in-house procedure of inquiry operates independently of the constitutional route and cannot by itself result in the judge's removal from office. 2. A motion for removal must be preceded by a notice signed by at least 100 members in the Rajya Sabha, or by at least 50 members in the Lok Sabha. 3. Once such a motion is admitted, the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968 requires the charges to be investigated by a three-member committee consisting of a Supreme Court judge, a Chief Justice of a High Court and a distinguished jurist. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Supreme Court's in-house procedure of inquiry operates independently of the constitutional route and cannot by itself result in the judge's removal from office.
  2. A motion for removal must be preceded by a notice signed by at least 100 members in the Rajya Sabha, or by at least 50 members in the Lok Sabha.
  3. Once such a motion is admitted, the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968 requires the charges to be investigated by a three-member committee consisting of a Supreme Court judge, a Chief Justice of a High Court and a distinguished jurist.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 2 and 3 only

Q12. Consider the following statements about the Rajasthan High Court and the State it serves: 1. The seat of the Rajasthan High Court is at Jodhpur, whereas the capital of the State is Jaipur. 2. Jodhpur, the second largest city of the State, acceded to Rajasthan only in 1956, under the States Reorganisation Act. 3. Rajasthan was formed by first grouping the princely states and chiefdoms into small unions, which were then merged with the remaining Rajput states in 1949 to create Greater Rajasthan. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The seat of the Rajasthan High Court is at Jodhpur, whereas the capital of the State is Jaipur.
  2. Jodhpur, the second largest city of the State, acceded to Rajasthan only in 1956, under the States Reorganisation Act.
  3. Rajasthan was formed by first grouping the princely states and chiefdoms into small unions, which were then merged with the remaining Rajput states in 1949 to create Greater Rajasthan.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3