Chief Justice India
Key Concepts
| # | Concept | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Appointment | President appoints CJI after consulting such SC/HC judges as he deems necessary; by convention the senior-most judge of Supreme Court becomes CJI. |
| 2 | Tenure | Till he attains 65 yrs of age OR resigns OR is removed by impeachment; can be re-appointed only as an ad-hoc judge (rare). |
| 3 | Salary & Emoluments | ₹2.8 lakh/month basic + perks; charged on Consolidated Fund of India (cannot be varied to his disadvantage). |
| 4 | Powers | Master of Roster – allocates benches & cases; presides over constitution bench; recommends names for SC/HC judges to Collegium. |
| 5 | Impeachment | Same as SC judge: 100 LS + 50 RS MPs → motion passed by each House with ≥2/3 present & voting → President removes. |
| 6 | Acting CJI | When CJI is absent/unable or post vacant, President can appoint the senior-most judge as Acting CJI (no oath afresh). |
| 7 | 1st CJI | Justice Harilal J. Kania – 26 Jan 1950 (till 6 Nov 1951). |
| 8 | 1st Woman judge in SC | Justice M. Fathima Beevi (1989); NOT CJI – useful distractor in exams. |
15 Practice MCQs
Q1. Who is appointed as the Chief Justice of India?
A) Prime Minister
B) President
C) Collegium of 5 senior-most SC judges
D) Parliament
Answer: B
Solution: Art 124 – President appoints CJI; convention = senior-most judge.
Shortcut: “CJI ka boss = Rāṣṭrapati”
Tag: Appointment
Q2. Retirement age of the CJI is _____ years.
A) 60
B) 62
C) 65
D) 70
Answer: C
Solution: 65 yrs for SC judges (HC = 62 yrs).
Shortcut: “Supreme = 65, High = 62”
Tag: Tenure
Q3. Who was the first Chief Justice of independent India?
A) M. Patanjali Sastri
B) Harilal J. Kania
C) S. R. Das
D) Mehr Chand Mahajan
Answer: B
Solution: 26 Jan 1950.
Tag: Static GK
Q4. The impeachment of the CJI requires a special majority in each House. What fraction?
A) Simple majority
B) ½ of total membership
C) 2/3 of members present & voting
D) 3/4 of total strength
Answer: C
Solution: Art 124(4) – special majority + present & voting ≥ 50% of House strength.
Tag: Removal
Q5. The monthly salary of the CJI is approximately
A) ₹2.5 lakh
B) ₹2.8 lakh
C) ₹3.5 lakh
D) ₹3.8 lakh
Answer: B
Solution: Enhanced w.e.f. 2021; basic ₹2,80,000.
Shortcut: “CJI 28 → like a post-paid 28-day plan”
Tag: Salary
Q6. Who administers the oath of office to the CJI?
A) President
B) Vice-President
C) Out-going CJI
D) Law Minister
Answer: A
Solution: President under Third Schedule.
Tag: Oath
Q7. The collegium that recommends appointment of SC judges is headed by
A) CJI
B) Law Minister
C) Attorney-General
D) Prime Minister
Answer: A
Solution: CJI + 4 senior-most colleagues.
Tag: Collegium
Q8. The power to temporarily appoint an Acting CJI rests with
A) Cabinet
B) President
C) Parliament
D) Supreme Court itself
Answer: B
Solution: When CJI post vacant/absent.
Tag: Acting CJI
Q9. The first woman judge of the Supreme Court of India was
A) Indu Malhotra
B) M. Fathima Beevi
C) Sujata Manohar
D) Ruma Pal
Answer: B
Solution: 1989; not CJI.
Tag: Static GK
Q10. Which constitutional article deals with appointment of SC judges including CJI?
A) Art 124
B) Art 217
C) Art 226
D) Art 143
Answer: A
Solution: Art 124 – establishment & appointment of SC.
Tag: Article
Q11. The pension of a retired CJI is charged on
A) Contingency Fund of India
B) Public Account
C) Consolidated Fund of India
D) Grants by Parliament
Answer: C
Solution: Like salary, pension also charged on CFI.
Tag: Finance
Q12. Who has the authority to increase the number of judges in the Supreme Court?
A) CJI
B) Parliament by ordinary law
C) President by ordinance
D) Cabinet Committee
Answer: B
Solution: Parliament can amend SC (No. of Judges) Act; latest 2020 raised strength to 34 (CJI+33).
Tag: Parliament
Q13. The CJI can appoint a retired judge as an ad-hoc judge of SC under which article?
A) Art 124A
B) Art 128
C) Art 136
D) Art 143
Answer: B
Solution: Art 128 – with consent of retired judge & President.
Tag: Ad-hoc judge
Q14. The first CJI to face an impeachment motion (though later withdrawn) was
A) V. Ramaswami
B) Dipak Misra
C) Y. V. Chandrachud
D) P. Sathasivam
Answer: B
Solution: 2018 motion by opposition parties; no inquiry completed.
Tag: Current event
Q15. Match: 1. CJI salary – A. 65 yrs; 2. HC judge retirement – B. ₹2.8 L; 3. SC judge retirement – C. 62 yrs
A) 1-B, 2-C, 3-A
B) 1-A, 2-B, 3-C
C) 1-C, 2-A, 3-B
D) 1-B, 2-A, 3-C
Answer: A
Solution: Recall weight-age chart.
Tag: Mixed
Speed Tricks
| Situation | Shortcut | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Age limits | “Supreme 65, High 62” | CJI retires at 65, HC at 62 |
| Articles | “124 – Supreme judge, 217 – High judge” | MCQ asking article |
| First CJI | “HJK – 1950” | Harilal J. Kania on 26 Jan 1950 |
| Impeachment majority | “2/3 present & voting” | Same for President, CAG |
| Salary number | “CJI 28” | ₹2.8 lakh – remember mobile recharge pack |
Quick Revision
| Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| Appointed by | President (convention – senior-most SC judge) |
| Tenure ends | 65 yrs / resignation / impeachment |
| 1st CJI | Justice H. J. Kania |
| Oath | President (Third Schedule) |
| Impeachment | Special majority each House (2/3 present & voting) |
| Master of Roster | CJI allocates cases & benches |
| Collegium head | CJI |
| Acting CJI | Appointed by President when CJI post vacant |
| Ad-hoc judge | Art 128 – retired judge with consent |
| Pension | Charged on Consolidated Fund of India |
BETA
