High Courts MCQ: Permanent Lok Adalat Awards, Certiorari Writ & Common High Courts

Attempt the quiz above first, then review every question with its correct answer and a short explanation below.

1. Q1.The decision of a Permanent Lok Adalat is?

   • A.Advisory only
   • B.Final and binding✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Appealable in District Court
   • D.Appealable in High Court only

   Explanation: The award made by the Permanent Lok Adalat is final and binding on all the parties thereto and on persons claiming under them.

2. Q2.Under the Family Courts Act, 1984, legal representation by a lawyer is?

   • A.Mandatory
   • B.Prohibited as a matter of right✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Allowed only with special permission of High Court
   • D.Allowed for all cases

   Explanation: The Act provides that a party to a dispute before a Family Court shall not be entitled, as of right, to be represented by a legal practitioner. However, the court may seek the assistance of a legal expert as amicus curiae.

3. Q3.The Gram Nyayalaya acts as?

   • A.Civil Court only
   • B.Criminal Court only
   • C.Both Civil and Criminal Court✓ Correct Answer
   • D.Revenue Court only

   Explanation: The Gram Nyayalaya tries both civil suits and criminal cases. It exercises the powers of a Judicial Magistrate of the First Class and a Civil Court.

4. Q4.Appeals against the decision of Gram Nyayalaya in criminal cases lie to?

   • A.High Court
   • B.Court of Session✓ Correct Answer
   • C.District Court
   • D.Supreme Court

   Explanation: In criminal cases, an appeal lies to the Court of Session, which shall be heard and disposed of within a period of six months.

5. Q5.Can the conduct of a High Court judge be discussed in the State Legislature?

   • A.Yes, always
   • B.Yes, but only during a removal motion
   • C.No, except when a motion for removal is under consideration in Parliament✓ Correct Answer
   • D.No, strictly prohibited under all circumstances

   Explanation: The Constitution prohibits any discussion in Parliament or in a State Legislature with respect to the conduct of any judge of the High Court in the discharge of his duties, except upon a motion for presenting an address to the President praying for removal.

6. Q6.Which writ is issued to quash the order of a lower court or tribunal in excess of jurisdiction?

   • A.Prohibition
   • B.Certiorari✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Mandamus
   • D.Quo-Warranto

   Explanation: Certiorari is issued by a higher court to a lower court or tribunal either to transfer a case pending with the latter to itself or to squash the order of the latter in a case.

7. Q7.The power of 'Superintendence' of the High Court under Article 227 includes?

   • A.Only administrative superintendence
   • B.Only judicial superintendence
   • C.Both administrative and judicial superintendence✓ Correct Answer
   • D.Legislative superintendence

   Explanation: The power of superintendence of the High Court under Article 227 involves both administrative as well as judicial superintendence.

8. Q8.Who defines the 'judicial service' of a state?

   • A.Article 236 of the Constitution✓ Correct Answer
   • B.The Governor
   • C.The State Legislature
   • D.The High Court

   Explanation: Article 236 defines the expression 'judicial service' as a service consisting exclusively of persons intended to fill the post of district judge and other civil judicial posts inferior to the post of district judge.

9. Q9.A High Court can issue writs to?

   • A.Only to persons/authorities within its territorial jurisdiction
   • B.To any person/authority outside its jurisdiction if the cause of action arises within its jurisdiction
   • C.Both A and B✓ Correct Answer
   • D.Only to the State Government

   Explanation: A High Court can issue writs to any person or authority within its territorial jurisdiction. It can also issue writs to any person or authority outside its territorial jurisdiction if the cause of action arises, wholly or in part, within its territorial jurisdiction.

10. Q10.Which of the following states share a common High Court?

    • A.Punjab and Haryana✓ Correct Answer
    • B.Maharashtra and Gujarat
    • C.Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh
    • D.Uttar Pradesh and Bihar

    Explanation: Punjab and Haryana share a common High Court (Punjab and Haryana High Court), which is located in Chandigarh.

11. Q11.The transfer of judges from one High Court to another is subject to judicial review on grounds of?

    • A.Violation of natural justice
    • B.Arbitrariness only✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Mala fide intent only
    • D.It is not subject to judicial review

    Explanation: In the Second Judges Case (1993), the Supreme Court ruled that the transfer of judges is subject to judicial review, but only on the ground that the transfer was made without the recommendation of the CJI (which implies arbitrariness).

12. Q12.Who prepares the panel of names for the appointment of District Judges?

    • A.State Public Service Commission
    • B.High Court✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Governor
    • D.Chief Minister

    Explanation: The High Court recommends the names for the appointment of District Judges. The Governor makes the appointment based on this recommendation.

13. Q13.Civil Courts in a state are established under?

    • A.Constitution of India
    • B.State Civil Courts Act✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Code of Civil Procedure
    • D.Indian Contract Act

    Explanation: The organizational structure, jurisdiction, and nomenclature of the subordinate civil courts are laid down by the States Civil Courts Act enacted by the respective state legislatures.

14. Q14.The Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) is subordinate to?

    • A.Chief Justice of High Court
    • B.District Magistrate
    • C.Sessions Judge✓ Correct Answer
    • D.Superintendent of Police

    Explanation: The Chief Judicial Magistrate is subordinate to the Sessions Judge, and every other Judicial Magistrate is subordinate to the Chief Judicial Magistrate, subject to the general control of the Sessions Judge.

15. Q15.Which committee recommended the establishment of 'Gram Nyayalayas'?

    • A.Law Commission of India (114th Report)✓ Correct Answer
    • B.Sarkaria Commission
    • C.Punchhi Commission
    • D.Malimath Committee

    Explanation: The Law Commission of India in its 114th Report on Gram Nyayalaya recommended the establishment of Gram Nyayalayas for providing speedy, substantial, and inexpensive justice to the common man.

16. Q16.How many High Courts are there currently in India (as of 2024)?

    • A.21
    • B.24
    • C.25✓ Correct Answer
    • D.28

    Explanation: Currently, there are 25 High Courts in India. The latest ones formed were the High Court of Andhra Pradesh and the High Court of Telangana in 2019.

17. Q17.Who appoints the officers and servants of a High Court?

    • A.The Governor
    • B.The Chief Justice of the High Court✓ Correct Answer
    • C.The State Public Service Commission
    • D.The President

    Explanation: Article 229 provides that the Chief Justice of the High Court (or such other judge or officer as he may direct) appoints the officers and servants of the High Court.

18. Q18.A retired judge of a High Court is prohibited from practicing law in?

    • A.The Supreme Court
    • B.Any High Court in India
    • C.The High Court from where he retired✓ Correct Answer
    • D.Any court in India

    Explanation: A retired permanent judge of a High Court is prohibited from pleading or acting in any court or before any authority in India except the Supreme Court and the other High Courts.

19. Q19.Who is the Patron-in-Chief of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA)?

    • A.The President of India
    • B.The Prime Minister
    • C.The Chief Justice of India✓ Correct Answer
    • D.The Minister of Law and Justice

    Explanation: The Chief Justice of India serves as the Patron-in-Chief of NALSA.

20. Q20.Which of the following writs can be issued against both public authorities and private individuals?

    • A.Habeas Corpus✓ Correct Answer
    • B.Mandamus
    • C.Prohibition
    • D.Certiorari

    Explanation: The writ of Habeas Corpus can be issued against both public authorities as well as private individuals if the detention is illegal.