High Courts — Set 3
Indian Polity · उच्च न्यायालय · Questions 21–30 of 50
Which of the following disputes falls under the original jurisdiction of a High Court?
Correct Answer: D. Disputes relating to the election of MPs and MLAs
• **Election disputes (MPs and MLAs)** = fall under the original jurisdiction of the High Court, heard as first instance. • **Representation of the People Act 1951** — governs election petitions; the HC hears them directly, not on appeal. • 💡 Option A (disputes between two states) falls under the exclusive original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court (Article 131). Option B (advisory opinion to Governor) is not a judicial function of the HC. Option C (inter-state water disputes) is referred to a Tribunal by Parliament under Article 262.
How does the writ jurisdiction of a High Court (Article 226) compare to that of the Supreme Court (Article 32)?
Correct Answer: D. It is wider
• **HC writ jurisdiction is wider** = Article 226 covers both Fundamental Rights and 'any other purpose'; Article 32 only covers Fundamental Rights. • **SC territorial jurisdiction is wider** — SC writs run throughout India; HC writs are confined to its territorial jurisdiction. • 💡 Option A (it is narrower) is incorrect — HC's subject-matter jurisdiction is broader due to the 'any other purpose' clause. Option B (it is identical) is wrong because the HC has the wider scope. Option C (subject to SC approval) has no constitutional basis.
Who appoints the officers and servants of a High Court?
Correct Answer: A. The Chief Justice of the High Court
• **Chief Justice of the HC** = appoints all officers and servants of the court under Article 229(1). • **Article 229** — the Governor may require that appointments be made in consultation with the State Public Service Commission. • 💡 Option B (State Public Service Commission) may be consulted but does not itself appoint court staff. Option C (President) appoints judges but not court staff. Option D (Governor) may prescribe consultation conditions but does not directly appoint court officers.
The administrative expenses of a High Court are charged upon which fund?
Correct Answer: D. Consolidated Fund of State
• **Consolidated Fund of State** = the fund that bears all administrative expenses of the High Court including staff salaries. • **Not subject to vote** — being 'charged' means the State Legislature cannot vote to reduce or withhold these expenses. • 💡 Option A (Public Account of State) holds third-party deposits and is not used for HC administration. Option B (Consolidated Fund of India) bears HC judges' pensions — not administrative expenses. Option C (Contingency Fund of State) is an emergency reserve, not used for routine HC expenses.
Who has the power to establish a common High Court for two or more states?
Correct Answer: C. Parliament
• **Parliament** = the authority that can establish a common High Court for two or more states under Article 231. • **Article 231** — Parliament can also extend the jurisdiction of a HC to a Union Territory by law. • 💡 Option A (President) appoints judges but cannot establish a new HC by himself. Option B (Supreme Court) adjudicates but has no power to create High Courts. Option D (Concerned State Legislatures) cannot create a common HC — only Parliament can do so under Article 231.
In which year was the High Court of Delhi established?
Correct Answer: A. 1966
• **1966** = the year the Delhi High Court was established by the Delhi High Court Act. • **Before 1966** — the Punjab High Court had jurisdiction over the Delhi region. • 💡 Option B (1956) is wrong — the States Reorganisation Act was 1956 but Delhi HC was not created then. Option C (1947) is independence year; no HC for Delhi at that time. Option D (1950) is the Constitution's commencement year; Delhi HC still did not exist then.
The Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands falls under the jurisdiction of which High Court?
Correct Answer: B. Calcutta High Court
• **Calcutta High Court** = exercises jurisdiction over the UT of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. • **Circuit bench at Port Blair** — the Calcutta HC holds sittings at Port Blair to provide local judicial access. • 💡 Option A (Andhra Pradesh HC) has no geographical or administrative link to Andaman. Option C (Madras HC) covers Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, not Andaman. Option D (Delhi HC) only covers the NCT of Delhi.
The Union Territory of Lakshadweep falls under the jurisdiction of which High Court?
Correct Answer: C. Kerala High Court
• **Kerala High Court** = exercises jurisdiction over the UT of Lakshadweep due to geographical and linguistic proximity. • **Seat at Kochi (Ernakulam)** — the Kerala HC is the closest and most accessible High Court for Lakshadweep residents. • 💡 Option A (Karnataka HC) is in Bengaluru with no historical link to Lakshadweep. Option B (Bombay HC) covers Goa, Maharashtra, and certain UTs but not Lakshadweep. Option D (Madras HC) covers Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, not Lakshadweep.
Which High Court has jurisdiction over Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu?
Correct Answer: D. Bombay High Court
• **Bombay High Court** = exercises jurisdiction over Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (merged UT in 2020). • **Also covers Goa** — the Bombay HC has a bench at Panaji (Goa) in addition to Nagpur and Aurangabad benches. • 💡 Option A (Gujarat HC) covers only Gujarat state, not these UTs. Option B (Rajasthan HC) is entirely in northwest India with no link to western coastal UTs. Option C (Madhya Pradesh HC) is a landlocked state HC with no jurisdiction over western UTs.
The Union Territory of Puducherry falls under the jurisdiction of which High Court?
Correct Answer: D. Madras High Court
• **Madras High Court** = exercises jurisdiction over the UT of Puducherry; seat is in Chennai. • **Historical reason** — Puducherry was a French territory surrounded by Tamil Nadu; upon merger the Madras HC took jurisdiction. • 💡 Option A (Kerala HC) covers Kerala and Lakshadweep, not Puducherry. Option B (Calcutta HC) is in eastern India and covers Andaman and Nicobar. Option C (Andhra Pradesh HC) covers AP and has no link to Puducherry.