Indian Judiciary
Key Concepts & Formulas
| # | Concept | Quick Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Supreme Court Judges | 34 judges (CJI + 33) appointed by President; retire at 65 yrs |
| 2 | Collegium System | CJI + 4 seniormost judges recommend appointments/transfer of HC & SC judges |
| 3 | Writ Jurisdiction | SC (Art 32) & HCs (Art 226) issue 5 writs – Habeas Corpus, Mandamus, Prohibition, Certiorari, Quo-warranto |
| 4 | 3-Tier Judiciary | Supreme Court → High Courts → District & Subordinate Courts |
| 5 | Judge Removal | Needs 100 LS + 50 RS MPs + 2/3 present & voting majority; President signs order |
| 6 | PIL (Public Interest Litigation) | Any public-spirited person can approach court for weaker sections; started in 1979 (Hussainara Khatoon case) |
| 7 | Ad-hoc Judges | Retired SC judges can be appointed temporarily by CJI with President’s consent (Art 128) |
10 Practice MCQs
Q1. Who appoints the judges of the Supreme Court of India?
A. Prime Minister B. Parliament C. President on the advice of the Collegium D. Chief Justice of India alone Answer: C Solution: Article 124 – President appoints SC judges after consulting the Collegium (CJI + 4 seniormost judges). Shortcut: “Collegium recommends, President signs.” Tag: Appointment processQ2. At what age does a Supreme Court judge retire?
A. 60 yrs B. 62 yrs C. 65 yrs D. 70 yrs Answer: C Solution: Constitution (Art 124) fixes 65 yrs; HC judges retire at 62 yrs. Shortcut: SC = 65, HC = 62 (reverse digits). Tag: Retirement ageQ3. Which writ literally means “to produce the body”?
A. Mandamus B. Habeas Corpus C. Certiorari D. Prohibition Answer: B Solution: Habeas Corpus forces authority to produce detained person before court. Shortcut: “Habeas” = “Have body”. Tag: WritsQ4. The first woman judge of the Supreme Court was
A. M. Fathima Beevi B. Sujata Manohar C. R. Banumathi D. Indira Banerjee Answer: A Solution: Justice M. Fathima Beevi – 6 Jan 1989. Shortcut: “Beevi = First”. Tag: First in judiciaryQ5. How many judges are currently in the Supreme Court including the CJI?
A. 31 B. 32 C. 33 D. 34 Answer: D Solution: Strength raised to 34 (CJI + 33) by SC (Number of Judges) Amendment Act 2019. Shortcut: 2019 → 34 (remember 9 & 4). Tag: Current strengthQ6. Which High Court has jurisdiction over the largest number of states?
A. Bombay B. Guwahati C. Madras D. Allahabad Answer: B Solution: Guwahati HC covers 4 states (Assam, Nagaland, Mizoram, Arunachal). Shortcut: “Guwahati = Group of 4 North-East”. Tag: HC jurisdictionQ7. Removal of a Supreme Court judge is initiated by
A. President B. Parliament C. Collegium D. Law Minister Answer: B Solution: Lok Sabha 100 + Rajya Sabha 50 MPs sign notice; 2/3 present & voting. Shortcut: “100-50-2/3”. Tag: Removal processQ8. Which article empowers the High Court to issue writs?
A. 32 B. 226 C. 136 D. 143 Answer: B Solution: Art 226 – HC writ power; Art 32 – SC writ power. Shortcut: 226 = “Double 2” = High (HC). Tag: Constitutional articlesQ9. The concept of Public Interest Litigation (PIL) originated in which landmark case?
A. Keshavananda Bharati B. Maneka Gandhi C. Hussainara Khatoon D. S.R. Bommai Answer: C Solution: 1979 – Bihar undertrials; PIL for speedy trial. Shortcut: “Hussainara = Human rights”. Tag: Landmark casesQ10. Which of the following pairs is wrongly matched?
A. Mandamus – Command to perform duty B. Prohibition – Stop lower court from exceeding jurisdiction C. Quo-warranto – Declare office illegal D. Certiorari – Transfer case from higher to lower court Answer: D Solution: Certiorari quashes order of lower court; it does not transfer down. Shortcut: Certi = Cancel (lower court order). Tag: Writ meaning5 Previous Year Questions
[RRB NTPC 2021] Who is the present Chief Justice of India (as per latest exam cycle)?
A. D.Y. Chandrachud B. U.U. Lalit C. N.V. Ramana D. S.A. Bobde Answer: A Solution: Justice D.Y. Chandrachud took oath on 9 Nov 2022. Shortcut: “DYC = 2022”. Tag: Current CJI[RRB Group-D 2019] The highest judicial authority in India is
A. Parliament B. President C. Supreme Court D. Attorney General Answer: C Solution: Art 124 – SC is apex court. Tag: Hierarchy[RRB NTPC 2016] The retirement age of a High Court judge is
A. 60 yrs B. 62 yrs C. 65 yrs D. 70 yrs Answer: B Solution: Constitution Art 217 – 62 yrs. Tag: Retirement age[RRB ALP 2018] Which writ can be issued against both judicial and administrative authorities?
A. Prohibition B. Mandamus C. Certiorari D. Both B & C Answer: D Solution: Mandamus & Certiorari apply to both; Prohibition only to judicial/quasi-judicial. Tag: Writ scope[RRB NTPC 2022] The Collegium system is headed by
A. President B. Prime Minister C. Chief Justice of India D. Law Minister Answer: C Solution: CJI is head of Collegium. Tag: CollegiumSpeed Tricks & Shortcuts
| Situation | Shortcut | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Remember writ meanings | “HMP-CQ” → Habeas, Mandamus, Prohibition, Certiorari, Quo-warranto | Habeas = Have body |
| Retirement ages | SC = 65, HC = 62 → reverse digits | 65 ↔ 56 (SC) |
| Collegium strength | CJI + 4 judges → 5 fingers of hand | Raise hand = 5 |
| Judge removal majority | 100-50-2/3 | Lok 100, Rajya 50, 2/3 present & voting |
| Largest HC bench | Allahabad (approved strength 160) | “A for All & largest” |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
| Mistake | Why Students Make It | Correct Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Confusing Art 32 & 226 | Both deal with writs | 32 = Supreme, 226 = High (associate 226 with “higher” number = HC) |
| Thinking President can remove judge | Misread “President signs” | Parliament initiates & passes; President only orders |
| PIL = any case | “Public” is key | Only matters of public interest, not private grievance |
| Certiorari vs Prohibition | Both stop lower courts | Prohibition before order, Certiorari after order is passed |
Quick Revision Flashcards
| Front | Back |
|---|---|
| First woman SC judge | Justice M. Fathima Beevi (1989) |
| Art 32 | SC writ power – “heart & soul” per Dr. Ambedkar |
| Art 136 | Special leave petition (SLP) – SC can appeal any judgment |
| National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) | 99th Amendment 2014 struck down in 2015 – Collegium restored |
| Attorney General | Highest law officer; can sit in Parliament but no vote |
| Quo-warranto | By what authority? Challenges illegal public office |
| District judge appointment | By Governor in consultation with HC |
| Subordinate courts | Civil Judge (Junior), Judicial Magistrate, Sessions Judge |
| Supreme Court seat | Constitution bench ≥ 5 judges for substantial question |
| Fastest way to SC | SLP under Art 136 from any court/tribunal |
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