CHAPTER 4: THE ROLE OF THE JUDICIARY IN OUR SOCIETY
Q1. What does the Preamble to the Constitution of India promise to all citizens?
A. Only economic development
B. Social, economic and political justice
C. Only religious freedom
D. Only equal educational opportunities
Answer: B. Social, economic and political justice
Q2. Why is justice essential for society?
A. It ensures that only powerful people can make decisions.
B. It removes the need for laws.
C. It allows the government to control every personal decision.
D. It helps maintain peace, harmony, equality and dignity.
Answer: D. It helps maintain peace, harmony, equality and dignity.
Q3. Which institution ensures fair adjudication of disputes according to law?
A. Judiciary
B. Legislature
C. Election Commission
D. Political parties
Answer: A. Judiciary
Q4. Which of the following correctly describes the judiciary in relation to the other organs of government?
A. It is controlled entirely by the legislature.
B. It is a department of the executive.
C. It is independent of the legislature and executive.
D. It has no role in interpreting the Constitution.
Answer: C. It is independent of the legislature and executive.
Q5. Which three organs of government are mentioned in the chapter?
A. Police, army and legislature
B. Legislature, executive and judiciary
C. Judiciary, media and political parties
D. Executive, police and election authorities
Answer: B. Legislature, executive and judiciary
Q6. What is the primary purpose of laws in society?
A. To regulate people’s activities and establish consequences for violations
B. To allow everyone to act without restrictions
C. To remove the need for dispute resolution
D. To give identical powers to every institution
Answer: A. To regulate people’s activities and establish consequences for violations
Q7. Which of the following may be a consequence of breaking a law?
A. Automatic promotion at work
B. Guaranteed financial assistance
C. Cancellation of every constitutional right
D. A fine, compensation or imprisonment in certain cases
Answer: D. A fine, compensation or imprisonment in certain cases
Q8. What is the judicial system?
A. A system that makes all laws without constitutional limits
B. A system concerned only with elections
C. A system through which grievances can be raised and disputes resolved according to law and the Constitution
D. A system that allows only government officials to file complaints
Answer: C. A system through which grievances can be raised and disputes resolved according to law and the Constitution
Q9. What happened to many discriminatory laws enacted during British rule after India’s independence?
A. They were all made permanent.
B. They were reviewed, and over 1,500 such laws were repealed over the years.
C. They were transferred to the United Nations.
D. They were applied only to elected representatives.
Answer: B. They were reviewed, and over 1,500 such laws were repealed over the years.
Q10. Which colonial law labelled certain communities as criminals by birth?
A. Criminal Tribes Act, 1871
B. Vernacular Press Act, 1878
C. Indian Evidence Act, 1872
D. Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996
Answer: A. Criminal Tribes Act, 1871
Q11. What was the purpose of the Vernacular Press Act, 1878?
A. To establish the Supreme Court
B. To provide free legal assistance
C. To promote local self-government
D. To restrict the freedom of the Indian-language press
Answer: D. To restrict the freedom of the Indian-language press
Q12. What did the Jim Crow laws in parts of the United States enforce?
A. Equal access to all public facilities
B. Independence of the judiciary
C. Racial segregation in public facilities
D. Free education for every citizen
Answer: C. Racial segregation in public facilities
Q13. During which decade were the Jim Crow laws officially repealed, according to the chapter?
A. The 1940s
B. The 1960s
C. The 1980s
D. The 2000s
Answer: B. The 1960s
Q14. When were the discriminatory laws associated with apartheid in South Africa repealed, according to the chapter?
A. 1947
B. 1960
C. 1985
D. 1991
Answer: D. 1991
Q15. What does substantive justice focus on?
A. Whether the final outcome or decision is fair, just and reasonable
B. Whether a case is heard in a particular building
C. Whether the parties have identical occupations
D. Whether the case receives media coverage
Answer: A. Whether the final outcome or decision is fair, just and reasonable
Q16. What is procedural justice?
A. Giving the same punishment in every case
B. Deciding cases without hearing the parties
C. Giving every person involved a full opportunity to be heard before a decision
D. Allowing only the complainant to present evidence
Answer: C. Giving every person involved a full opportunity to be heard before a decision
Q17. What is the general legal principle regarding an accused person’s innocence?
A. Every accused person must be imprisoned immediately.
B. A person is presumed innocent until proved guilty.
C. An accusation is sufficient to establish guilt.
D. Only wealthy people are presumed innocent.
Answer: B. A person is presumed innocent until proved guilty.
Q18. What is the structure of the unified judicial system in India?
A. Supreme Court, High Courts and subordinate courts
B. Parliament, State Assemblies and Gram Sabhas
C. Police stations, prisons and legislatures
D. District Courts, Parliament and the executive
Answer: A. Supreme Court, High Courts and subordinate courts
Q19. When did the Supreme Court of India come into existence?
A. 15 August 1947
B. 26 November 1949
C. 2 October 1950
D. 26 January 1950
Answer: D. 26 January 1950
Q20. Which Article of the Constitution provides for the establishment of the Supreme Court of India?
A. Article 21
B. Article 32
C. Article 124
D. Article 226
Answer: C. Article 124
Q21. Where is the Supreme Court of India located?
A. New Delhi
B. Mumbai
C. Kolkata
D. Chennai
Answer: A. New Delhi
Q22. What is the Supreme Court’s role regarding the Constitution of India?
A. It can replace the Constitution whenever it wishes.
B. It is the final interpreter of the Constitution.
C. It is responsible for conducting every election.
D. It makes all laws without Parliament.
Answer: B. It is the final interpreter of the Constitution.
Q23. Who appoints the judges of the Supreme Court of India, according to the chapter?
A. The Prime Minister alone
B. The Chief Justice of India alone
C. The Parliament alone
D. The President of India
Answer: D. The President of India
Q24. At what age does a Supreme Court judge retire, according to the chapter?
A. 60 years
B. 62 years
C. 65 years
D. 70 years
Answer: C. 65 years
Q25. Which of the following is a qualification for appointment as a Supreme Court judge?
A. Being a citizen of India and having the required judicial experience, legal practice or distinguished legal expertise
B. Having served as a Member of Parliament for five years
C. Having been a district police officer for ten years
D. Having served as a Governor of a State
Answer: A. Being a citizen of India and having the required judicial experience, legal practice or distinguished legal expertise
Q26. What is the purpose of writ jurisdiction?
A. To regulate the prices of essential goods
B. To enforce Fundamental Rights guaranteed by the Constitution
C. To appoint members of Parliament
D. To determine the boundaries of every district
Answer: B. To enforce Fundamental Rights guaranteed by the Constitution
Q27. Under which Article can a citizen directly approach the Supreme Court to enforce Fundamental Rights?
A. Article 124
B. Article 131
C. Article 214
D. Article 32
Answer: D. Article 32
Q28. Which Article provides the High Courts with writ jurisdiction?
A. Article 143
B. Article 141
C. Article 226
D. Article 136
Answer: C. Article 226
Q29. What is Public Interest Litigation (PIL) intended to address?
A. Issues of public concern and the protection of people’s rights
B. Only disputes between private companies
C. Only property disputes between family members
D. Only election campaigns
Answer: A. Issues of public concern and the protection of people’s rights
Q30. Who filed the complaint described in the chapter that led to the release of under-trial prisoners in Bihar?
A. Medha Patkar
B. Kapila Hingorani
C. Aruna Asaf Ali
D. Sarojini Naidu
Answer: B. Kapila Hingorani
Q31. Approximately how many under-trial prisoners across India were covered by the guidelines issued following the case mentioned in the chapter?
A. 4,000
B. 10,000
C. 20,000
D. 40,000
Answer: D. 40,000
Q32. What was the focus of the M.C. Mehta v. Union of India cases mentioned in the chapter?
A. The organisation of elections
B. The appointment of High Court judges
C. Environmental issues, including cleaning the Ganga and protecting the Taj Mahal
D. The formation of political parties
Answer: C. Environmental issues, including cleaning the Ganga and protecting the Taj Mahal
Q33. What did the Supreme Court establish in the Vishaka case in 1997?
A. Guidelines against sexual harassment at the workplace
B. Rules for conducting national elections
C. Guidelines for the appointment of Governors
D. Rules for collecting agricultural taxes
Answer: A. Guidelines against sexual harassment at the workplace
Q34. Which law was enacted in 2013 following the workplace sexual harassment guidelines mentioned in the chapter?
A. The Environment Protection Act, 1986
B. The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013
C. The Right to Information Act, 2005
D. The Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996
Answer: B. The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013
Q35. Which Article gives the Supreme Court exclusive original jurisdiction over certain disputes between the Centre and States?
A. Article 32
B. Article 226
C. Article 143
D. Article 131
Answer: D. Article 131
Q36. What is appellate jurisdiction?
A. The power to appoint judges to every court
B. The power to make laws for Parliament
C. The power to hear appeals against decisions of lower courts or certain tribunals
D. The power to conduct public elections
Answer: C. The power to hear appeals against decisions of lower courts or certain tribunals
Q37. What is the advisory jurisdiction of the Supreme Court?
A. Giving an opinion when the President seeks advice on a question of law or fact of public importance
B. Advising private companies on their business plans
C. Giving binding instructions to every citizen on personal matters
D. Preparing the annual budget of the Union Government
Answer: A. Giving an opinion when the President seeks advice on a question of law or fact of public importance
Q38. Under which Article can the President seek the Supreme Court’s opinion on a question of law or fact of public importance?
A. Article 124
B. Article 143
C. Article 214
D. Article 233
Answer: B. Article 143
Q39. What does Article 141 establish regarding the law declared by the Supreme Court?
A. It applies only to the State in which the case originated.
B. It is binding only on the parties to the case.
C. It can be ignored by subordinate courts.
D. It is binding on all courts within the territory of India.
Answer: D. It is binding on all courts within the territory of India.
Q40. What is the main function of a High Court?
A. To serve as the highest court for the entire world
B. To make all laws for the State legislature
C. To act as the highest court at the State level and exercise its constitutional jurisdiction
D. To replace all subordinate courts permanently
Answer: C. To act as the highest court at the State level and exercise its constitutional jurisdiction
Q41. How many High Courts does India have, according to the textbook?
A. 25
B. 28
C. 29
D. 30
Answer: A. 25
Q42. Which High Court is listed for Uttar Pradesh in the chapter’s table?
A. Delhi High Court
B. Allahabad High Court
C. Patna High Court
D. Rajasthan High Court
Answer: B. Allahabad High Court
Q43. At what age do High Court judges retire, according to the chapter?
A. 58 years
B. 60 years
C. 65 years
D. 62 years
Answer: D. 62 years
Q44. Which courts form an important part of the subordinate judiciary?
A. Only the Supreme Court
B. Only High Courts
C. District Courts, Sessions Courts, Revenue Courts and Small Causes Courts
D. Only specialised international courts
Answer: C. District Courts, Sessions Courts, Revenue Courts and Small Causes Courts
Q45. Which tribunal deals with environmental issues, according to the chapter?
A. National Green Tribunal
B. National Company Law Tribunal
C. Central Administrative Tribunal
D. Armed Forces Tribunal
Answer: A. National Green Tribunal
Q46. Which digital initiative allows court proceedings to be conducted with both physical and virtual participation?
A. Lok Adalat
B. Hybrid hearings
C. Arbitration
D. Gram Nyayalaya
Answer: B. Hybrid hearings
Q47. What is arbitration?
A. A process in which the parties must always approach Parliament
B. A process in which a judge never hears either party
C. A system for appointing government employees
D. A process in which parties refer a dispute to an independent arbitrator whose decision is legally binding
Answer: D. A process in which parties refer a dispute to an independent arbitrator whose decision is legally binding
Q48. What is the role of a mediator in mediation?
A. To impose a decision on both parties
B. To punish the party accused of wrongdoing
C. To help the disputing parties reach a mutual settlement without imposing a decision
D. To replace the Supreme Court in every case
Answer: C. To help the disputing parties reach a mutual settlement without imposing a decision
Q49. What is the purpose of Lok Adalats?
A. To settle disputes amicably and help reduce the backlog of cases
B. To conduct elections for local governments
C. To appoint judges of the Supreme Court
D. To make laws for the entire country
Answer: A. To settle disputes amicably and help reduce the backlog of cases
Q50. What is the main purpose of Gram Nyayalayas?
A. To hear only disputes involving international trade
B. To provide simplified village-level justice and reduce the burden on regular courts
C. To replace every High Court
D. To deal exclusively with constitutional amendments
Answer: B. To provide simplified village-level justice and reduce the burden on regular courts
