Q20. Supreme Court decisions are binding on which category of courts in India?
[SSC CHSL, 16 March 2018]
(A) All courts within India
(B) Only District Courts
(C) Only High Courts
(D) Only the parties’ chosen courts
Answer: (A) All courts within India
Explanation: Article 141 binds every court in India to the law declared by the Supreme Court. The rule promotes consistency in legal interpretation, although the Supreme Court may reconsider or overrule its own precedent in suitable proceedings.
Q19. Who formally appoints judges of the Supreme Court under the Constitution?
[UPSC NDA (II), 9 September 2018]
(A) Judges’ collegium itself
(B) Union Cabinet
(C) President of India
(D) Lok Sabha
Answer: (C) President of India
Explanation: Article 124 provides for appointment by the President. Judicial consultation and the collegium process determine recommendations within the prevailing constitutional framework, but the formal appointment is issued in the President’s name.
Q18. Which of these form part of Supreme Court powers:
Original federal disputes,
Appeals from High Courts,
Complete-justice orders
Advisory opinions to the President?
[UPSC CDS (I) 2017]
(A) All four
(B) Original and appellate powers only
(C) Original and advisory powers only
(D) Appeals alone
Answer: (A) All four
Explanation: The Court possesses original jurisdiction for specified federal disputes, appellate jurisdiction, Article 142 complete-justice powers and Article 143 advisory jurisdiction. Their conditions differ; describing these categories together does not mean every case qualifies under each.
Q17. Which claim about the Supreme Court is incorrect?
[UPSC CDS (I) 2016]
(A) It has original jurisdiction in certain Union–State disputes
(B) The President may seek its advisory opinion
(C) It may review its judgments
(D) It alone may issue writs to protect Fundamental Rights
Answer: (D) It alone may issue writs to protect Fundamental Rights
Explanation: High Courts also issue writs to enforce Fundamental Rights under Article 226. Therefore Supreme Court writ authority under Article 32 is not exclusive of High Court power. The other listed functions are constitutionally recognized.
Q16. Which judicial decisions reinforced the basic-structure doctrine after Kesavananda Bharati?
[WBCS Mains 2016]
(A) Indira Gandhi v. Raj Narain only
(B) Minerva Mills only
(C) Both of these decisions
(D) Neither decision
Answer: (C) Both of these decisions
Explanation: Indira Gandhi v. Raj Narain and Minerva Mills developed the basic-structure doctrine in different constitutional contexts. They reaffirmed that amendment power cannot eliminate core features such as democratic principles and limited constitutional government.
Q15. What does judicial review principally mean in Supreme Court constitutional law?
[WBCS Mains 2016]
(A) Judges make the annual budget
(B) Court supervises every administrative file
(C) Court examines constitutionality of laws and actions
(D) Court appoints legislators
Answer: (C) Court examines constitutionality of laws and actions
Explanation: Judicial review enables constitutional courts to test legislation and executive action against the Constitution. It is a legal check on public power, not direct responsibility for governing, budgeting or electing representatives.
Q14. Which Supreme Court case laid down important restrictions on arbitrary use of Article 356 President’s Rule?
[WBCS Mains 2016]
(A) Minerva Mills case
(B) S.R. Bommai case
(C) Sajjan Singh case
(D) Golaknath case
Answer: (B) S.R. Bommai case
Explanation: S.R. Bommai v. Union of India (1994) established significant judicial checks on President’s Rule, including the importance of legislative floor tests. It strengthened federalism and limited politically motivated dismissal of State governments.
Q13. Which writ is issued by a superior court to stop a lower court or tribunal from continuing proceedings beyond its jurisdiction?
[WBCS Mains 2016]
(A) Habeas corpus
(B) Prohibition
(C) Quo warranto
(D) Certiorari
Answer: (B) Prohibition
Explanation: The writ of prohibition operates preventively by restraining proceedings where a lower judicial or quasi-judicial body exceeds jurisdiction. Certiorari is generally corrective, while habeas corpus and quo warranto protect different public-law interests.
Q12. Which writ may be used by a superior court to call up and quash an inferior court’s legally defective determination?
[WBCS Mains 2016]
(A) Habeas corpus
(B) Quo warranto
(C) Certiorari
(D) Mandamus
Answer: (C) Certiorari
Explanation: Certiorari is a supervisory remedy addressing jurisdictional error or specified legal defects in the decision of an inferior court or tribunal. Prohibition ordinarily prevents proceedings from continuing before an unlawful outcome is reached.
Q11. Article 13(1) renders pre-Constitution laws void to the extent of inconsistency with Fundamental Rights. Which constitutional idea does this illustrate?
[WBCS Mains 2016]
(A) Judicial activism
(B) Judicial review
(C) Discretionary review
(D) Judicial interpretation alone
Answer: (B) Judicial review
Explanation: Article 13(1) establishes constitutional supremacy over inconsistent pre-Constitution laws. Courts can apply judicial review to hold such laws inoperative to the extent of conflict with Fundamental Rights. This is a substantive constitutional test, not merely administrative discretion.
