Judicial Review in India — UPSC Prelims PYQ 2017

In India, Judicial Review implies

1. the power of the Judiciary to pronounce upon the constitutionality of laws and executive orders.
2. the power of the Judiciary to question the wisdom of the laws enacted by the Legislatures.
3. the power of the Judiciary to review all the legislative enactments before they are assented to by the President.
4. the power of the Judiciary to review its own judgements given earlier in similar or different cases.

Explanation

Option (a) is correct

• In India, Judicial Review empowers the judiciary, specifically the Supreme Court and High Courts, to examine whether laws enacted by the legislature or actions taken by the executive comply with the Constitution. If a law or order violates any constitutional provisions, the judiciary can declare it invalid or unconstitutional. This ensures that all actions of the state remain within the limits of the Constitution, safeguarding citizens’ rights and upholding the rule of law. Judicial Review thus acts as a check on arbitrary laws or executive actions.

Answer: (a) the power of the Judiciary to pronounce upon the constitutionality of laws and executive orders; Difficulty Level: Easy