Supreme Court MCQ: Collegium System, Judicial Review & Writ Powers

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

1. Q1.Which Amendment Act separated the appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court in civil cases from the monetary limit of 20,000 rupees?

   • A.24th Amendment
   • B.30th Amendment✓ Correct Answer
   • C.42nd Amendment
   • D.44th Amendment

   Explanation: The 30th Constitutional Amendment Act (1972) removed the monetary limit of 20,000 rupees for civil appeals and replaced it with the condition of 'substantial question of law of general importance'.

2. Q2.Can the Supreme Court grant special leave to appeal from a judgment of a military tribunal?

   • A.Yes
   • B.No✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Yes, in death penalty cases
   • D.Yes, if the President permits

   Explanation: Article 136 (Special Leave Petition) explicitly excludes any judgment, determination, sentence or order passed or made by any court or tribunal constituted by or under any law relating to the Armed Forces.

3. Q3.If the President refers a matter regarding a 'pre-Constitution treaty' to the Supreme Court under Article 143, is the Court bound to give its opinion?

   • A.Yes, it must give its opinion✓ Correct Answer
   • B.No, it can refuse
   • C.Depends on the CJI
   • D.Only if it affects fundamental rights

   Explanation: In the second category of disputes (pre-Constitution treaties, agreements, etc.), the Supreme Court *must* tender its opinion to the President.

4. Q4.Who determines the allowances paid to a retired judge who is requested to act as a judge of the Supreme Court?

   • A.The Parliament
   • B.The President✓ Correct Answer
   • C.The Chief Justice of India
   • D.The Finance Ministry

   Explanation: Such a judge is entitled to such allowances as the President may by order determine.

5. Q5.The power of the Supreme Court to punish for contempt of itself is a characteristic of?

   • A.Original Jurisdiction
   • B.Advisory Jurisdiction
   • C.Court of Record✓ Correct Answer
   • D.Appellate Jurisdiction

   Explanation: Being a Court of Record (Article 129), the Supreme Court has the power to punish for contempt of itself.

6. Q6.Which Article provides for the 'Enlargement of the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court'?

   • A.Article 138✓ Correct Answer
   • B.Article 139
   • C.Article 140
   • D.Article 141

   Explanation: Article 138 empowers the Parliament to enlarge the jurisdiction and powers of the Supreme Court with respect to any of the matters in the Union List.

7. Q7.The Constitution of India has borrowed the concept of 'judicial review' from?

   • A.UK
   • B.USA✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Canada
   • D.Australia

   Explanation: The concept of judicial review originated and developed in the USA (Marbury v. Madison case, 1803) and was borrowed by India.

8. Q8.Article 50 of the Constitution (DPSP) directs the State to separate the judiciary from?

   • A.The Legislature
   • B.The Executive✓ Correct Answer
   • C.The Press
   • D.The Military

   Explanation: Article 50 directs the State to take steps to separate the judiciary from the executive in the public services of the State.

9. Q9.In which case did the Supreme Court rule that the power of judicial review cannot be curtailed even by a constitutional amendment?

   • A.Minerva Mills Case (1980)✓ Correct Answer
   • B.Golaknath Case (1967)
   • C.Shankari Prasad Case (1951)
   • D.SR Bommai Case (1994)

   Explanation: In the Minerva Mills case (1980), the SC ruled that judicial review is a basic feature of the Constitution and cannot be taken away by a constitutional amendment.

10. Q10.Who can remove the Chief Justice of India from his office?

    • A.The President alone
    • B.The Parliament alone
    • C.The President on the recommendation of Parliament✓ Correct Answer
    • D.The Collegium

    Explanation: The CJI can be removed by the President only after an address by Parliament has been presented to him for such removal (impeachment process).

11. Q11.Is the Supreme Court of India a 'Federal Court'?

    • A.Yes✓ Correct Answer
    • B.No
    • C.Partially
    • D.Only in civil matters

    Explanation: Yes, as a federal court, the Supreme Court has exclusive original jurisdiction to decide disputes regarding different units of the Indian Federation.

12. Q12.Which of the following writs implies 'we command'?

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

    Explanation: Mandamus simply means 'we command'. It is issued by the court to a public official asking him to perform his official duties.

13. Q13.The writ of 'Quo-Warranto' is issued to inquire into?

    • A.Legality of claim of a person to a public office✓ Correct Answer
    • B.Illegal detention of a person
    • C.Jurisdiction of a lower court
    • D.Performance of duty by a public official

    Explanation: Quo-Warranto means 'by what authority'. It is issued to inquire into the legality of the claim of a person to a public office.

14. Q14.Can the Parliament confer the power to issue writs on any other court (other than SC and HC)?

    • A.Yes, under Article 32✓ Correct Answer
    • B.No, never
    • C.Yes, under Article 139
    • D.Yes, under Article 226

    Explanation: Article 32 empowers the Parliament to empower any other court to issue these writs within its local limits. (However, no such provision has been made so far).

15. Q15.Who was the longest-serving Chief Justice of India?

    • A.Y.V. Chandrachud✓ Correct Answer
    • B.P.N. Bhagwati
    • C.M. Hidayatullah
    • D.K.G. Balakrishnan

    Explanation: Y.V. Chandrachud was the longest-serving Chief Justice of India (1978–1985).

16. Q16.The 'Collegium System' for the appointment of judges was born out of which case?

    • A.First Judges Case (1982)
    • B.Second Judges Case (1993)✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Third Judges Case (1998)
    • D.Kesavananda Bharati Case (1973)

    Explanation: The Collegium System was born out of the Second Judges Case (1993) and further expanded in the Third Judges Case (1998).

17. Q17.In the Third Judges Case (1998), the Supreme Court opined that the CJI should consult how many senior-most judges for appointments?

    • A.Two
    • B.Three
    • C.Four✓ Correct Answer
    • D.Five

    Explanation: The SC held that the Collegium should consist of the CJI and the four senior-most judges of the Supreme Court.

18. Q18.Which Article allows the Supreme Court to transfer a case from itself to a High Court?

    • A.Article 139A
    • B.Article 140
    • C.Article 141
    • D.It cannot do so✓ Correct Answer

    Explanation: Usually, the transfer is from HC to SC or HC to HC. The SC does not typically transfer cases from itself to a High Court, but under Article 139A, it can withdraw cases from HCs to itself.

19. Q19.The Supreme Court's power to issue writs is narrower than that of the High Court because?

    • A.It can issue writs only against the Centre
    • B.It can issue writs only for Fundamental Rights✓ Correct Answer
    • C.It has fewer judges
    • D.It is located only in Delhi

    Explanation: The SC can issue writs only for the enforcement of Fundamental Rights, whereas High Courts can issue them for Fundamental Rights and for 'any other purpose'.

20. Q20.Which of the following is considered a 'Guarantor' of the Fundamental Rights of the citizens?

    • A.The President
    • B.The Parliament
    • C.The Supreme Court✓ Correct Answer
    • D.The Police

    Explanation: Article 32 makes the Supreme Court the guarantor and defender of the Fundamental Rights.