Judiciary Quiz: Indian Polity Practice

Spoilers! These are the Starter quiz’s answers. Easy, Medium, Hard and Mixed rounds show their own answers when you finish.

1. Which Article of the Constitution establishes the Supreme Court of India?

   • Article 214
   • Article 32
   • Article 141
   • Article 124

   Answer: Article 124. Article 124 creates the Supreme Court. Article 214 is about High Courts, Article 32 is the right to constitutional remedies and Article 141 makes its law binding.

2. Which of the following is NOT a route to appointment as a judge of the Supreme Court?

   • Five years as a judge of a High Court
   • Ten years in a judicial office in a subordinate court
   • Ten years as an advocate of a High Court
   • Being a distinguished jurist in the opinion of the President

   Answer: Ten years in a judicial office in a subordinate court. Ten years of judicial office is a qualification for High Court judges under Article 217, not for the Supreme Court under Article 124(3).

3. A dispute between the Government of India and one or more states falls under the Supreme Court's:

   • original jurisdiction
   • appellate jurisdiction
   • advisory jurisdiction
   • review jurisdiction

   Answer: original jurisdiction. Article 131 gives the Supreme Court exclusive original jurisdiction over federal disputes; no other court can hear them.

4. The opinion given by the Supreme Court on a reference by the President under Article 143 is:

   • binding on the President and all courts
   • binding only if a five-judge bench delivers it
   • advisory and not binding on the President
   • subject to approval by both Houses of Parliament

   Answer: advisory and not binding on the President. The President may seek the Court's opinion but is not bound by it. Such references are heard by at least five judges under Article 145(3).

5. The collegium system of appointing judges emerged from which judgment?

   • First Judges case, 1981
   • Kesavananda Bharati case, 1973
   • Second Judges case, 1993
   • Minerva Mills case, 1980

   Answer: Second Judges case, 1993. The Second Judges case gave the judiciary primacy through a collegium. The First Judges case had given the executive primacy.

6. A judge of the Supreme Court can be removed from office by:

   • an order of the President after an address by each House passed by special majority
   • the President on the advice of the Chief Justice of India
   • a resolution of the Lok Sabha alone passed by simple majority
   • a full bench of the Supreme Court on a complaint

   Answer: an order of the President after an address by each House passed by special majority. Article 124(4) requires an address by both Houses, each with a special majority, on proved misbehaviour or incapacity. The procedure is in the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968.

7. Judges of High Courts retire at the age of:

   • 65 years
   • 62 years
   • 60 years
   • 70 years

   Answer: 62 years. The 15th Amendment (1963) raised the High Court retirement age from 60 to 62. Supreme Court judges retire at 65.

8. Which statement about writ jurisdiction is correct?

   • Only the Supreme Court can issue the writ of habeas corpus
   • The Supreme Court's writ power under Article 32 is wider than Article 226
   • A High Court cannot issue writs against the Central Government
   • A High Court can issue writs for Fundamental Rights and for any other purpose

   Answer: A High Court can issue writs for Fundamental Rights and for any other purpose. Article 226 covers legal rights beyond Fundamental Rights, so it is wider than Article 32. High Courts can issue writs to any authority within their territory, including Central bodies.

9. Ad hoc judges in the Supreme Court are appointed by:

   • the Chief Justice of India with the previous consent of the President
   • the President on the advice of the Prime Minister
   • Parliament through a resolution of both Houses
   • the collegium of the five senior-most judges

   Answer: the Chief Justice of India with the previous consent of the President. Article 127 lets the CJI appoint a High Court judge as ad hoc judge when there is a lack of quorum, after consulting the High Court Chief Justice and with the President's consent.

10. Lok Adalats in India have statutory status under:

    • the Gram Nyayalayas Act, 2008
    • the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987
    • the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
    • the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996

    Answer: the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987. The 1987 Act gave Lok Adalats statutory backing. Their award is final, binding and deemed a civil court decree, with no appeal.