UPSC CSE Prelims
Question 60
With reference to the Constitution of India, consider the following statements :
- No High Court shall have the jurisdiction to declare any central law to be constitutionally invalid.
- An amendment to the Constitution of India cannot be called into question by the Supreme Court of India.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
View correct answer and explanation
Correct answer: D
Correct Option: D
Explanation:
High Courts can judicially review central legislation under Articles 226/13, while Supreme Court review of constitutional amendments is possible under the basic-structure doctrine. Thus neither categorical prohibition is correct.
Statement / Pair Analysis:
1 (Incorrect): High Courts have constitutional power to examine even central laws for constitutional validity.
2 (Incorrect): The Supreme Court may invalidate constitutional amendments that damage the Constitution’s basic structure.
Option-wise Analysis:
A (Incorrect): It includes false item 1 (High Courts have constitutional power to examine even central laws for constitutional validity).
B (Incorrect): It includes false item 2 (The Supreme Court may invalidate constitutional amendments that damage the Constitution’s basic…).
C (Incorrect): It includes false item 1 (High Courts have constitutional power to examine even central laws for constitutional validity); includes false item 2 (The Supreme Court may invalidate constitutional amendments that damage the Constitution’s basic…).
D (Correct): All listed statements/pairs are false.