UPSC Prelims 2001 · General Studies
Question 18: Polity and Governance
Consider the following statements regarding the High Courts in India: I. There are eighteen High Courts in the country. II. Three of them have jurisdiction over more than one State. III. No Union Territory has a High Court of its own. IV. Judges of the High Court hold office till the age of 62. Which of these statements is/are correct?
AnswerThe answer is (a).
Statements I, II and IV were correct in 2001. There were 18 High Courts then, and three served more than one State (Bombay, Guwahati, and Punjab and Haryana). High Court judges retire at 62 under Article 217. Statement III is wrong because Delhi has had its own High Court since 1966. Remember that Supreme Court judges retire at 65.
- I. There were eighteen High Courts at the time.
- II. Bombay, Guwahati, and Punjab and Haryana each served more than one State.
- III. Delhi has had its own High Court since 1966.
- IV. High Court judges retire at 62.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Right: I, II and IV are correct.
- (b) III is false because Delhi, a Union Territory, has its own High Court.
- (c) Leaves out II, which is correct because three High Courts cover more than one State.
- (d) IV is correct but I and II are also correct.
Worth knowing: The question has changed since: there are now 25 High Courts, so statement I is no longer true.
Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2001, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.