English - II : Previous Year Questions (2016)

PART – A

Q1. Why did Justice Marten scold Strangman?

Ans. Justice Marten scolded Strangman because he behaved in an indisciplined and disrespectful manner in court, keeping his hands in his pockets and jingling coins while making an application.

Q2. According to M.C. Chagla, what is the duty of the lawyer?

Ans. According to M.C. Chagla, the primary duty of an advocate is to maintain intellectual integrity. An advocate’s duty is not merely to "convert the judge to his point of view," but to ensure the judge fully understands and appreciates their side of the case and arguments.

Q3. What was an extra month salary for M.C. Chagla?

Ans. For M.C. Chagla, an untroubled conscience was as satisfying as an extra month’s salary.

Q4. Give two differences between the Original Side and the Appellate Side of the High Court?

Ans. Differences between Original Side and the Appellate Side:

1. Those who were not barristers or who had not pass the advocate OS examination could not appear on the original side. There was no such restriction on the appellate side.
2. Bands were worn only by the members of the original side.

Q5. Why did Pritt charge heavy fees to his capitalist clients?

Ans. Pritt was a communist, and practised the communist faith openly. He liked charging heavy fees to his capitalist clients, in order to make their capital go down. He used fees collected from them to further the communist cause.

Q6. When was M.C. Chagla appointed as an ad hoc judge of the International Court of Justice?

Ans. M.C. Chagla was appointed as an ad hoc judge to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) at The Hague in 1957.

Q7. Where is International Court of Justice housed?

Ans. The International Court is housed in the Peace Palace Hague, which was built as a result of a Peace Conference convened by Emperor Nicholas II of Russia in 1899.

Q8. What name was given to South-West Africa by United Nations?

Ans. The United Nations renamed South-West Africa as Namibia.

Q9. What do you mean by the term damnosa haereditas?

Ans. The term “Damnosa haereditas” means an inheritance from a person who dies insolvent and whose debts the heir is bound to discharge; an inheritance that is more of a burden than a benefit.

Q10. What were M.C. Chagla's views about the closing of the Court?

Ans. Mr Chagla never believed in closing court, government offices as a mark of respect for someone who has died. To his mind, the best way of honouring someone is to work harder than before. One may cancel parties and functions if they like but he did not understand why one should cease working because someone has passed away. He never supported the idea of closing the court when someone dies.

PART – B

Q11. Explain the following terms:

1. a deux - Involving two people, especially in private.

Sentence: The two friends enjoyed a quiet dinner a deux.

2. petite - Having a small, trim figure, usually used for women.

Sentence: She was a petite girl with a graceful personality.

3. joie-de-vivre - Keen or buoyant enjoyment of life; feeling of happiness.

Sentence: Her laughter and energy reflected her great joie-de-vivre.

4. en route - On the way to or from somewhere.

Sentence: We stopped for tea en route to Shimla.

Q12. Explain the following idioms:

1. Cock and bull story – A false or unbelievable story.

Sentence: Nobody believed his cock and bull story about losing the money.

2. To know the ropes – To know how to do a job or activity properly.

Sentence: After working for many years in the office, she knows the ropes very well.

3. With one voice – In complete agreement.

Sentence: The students spoke with one voice against unfair rules.

4. Take to heart – To be deeply affected by something.

Sentence: He took his teacher’s criticism to heart and worked harder.

Q13. Give one word for:

1. to make worse - aggravate
2. absence of Government – anarchy
3. one who is sued by the plaintiff – defendant
4. that cannot be corrected or improved – incorrigible

Q14. Make two words from each of the following prefixes:

1. Anti - antibody, antidote
2. Post - posthumously, postpone
3. Im - immoral, immature
4. Extra - extraordinary, extracurricular

PART – C

Q15. Write a letter to the Editor of a newspaper complaining of the frequent break downs of electricity in your locality.

Ans.

54, Mahesh Marg

Bapu Nagar

Jaipur

26 April 2026

To

The Editor

The Times of India

Jaipur

Subject: Frequent Breakdown of Electricity in Our Locality

Sir/Madam,

Through the columns of your esteemed newspaper, I would like to draw the attention of the concerned authorities towards the frequent breakdown of electricity in our locality.

The residents of our area are facing continuous power cuts almost every day. Sometimes electricity remains unavailable for many hours, especially during the evening and night. This causes great inconvenience to students, working people, shopkeepers, and elderly citizens. In the summer season, the situation becomes even worse due to the unbearable heat and shortage of water supply caused by power failures.

Moreover, sudden voltage fluctuations often damage electrical appliances such as fans, televisions, refrigerators, and computers. Despite repeated complaints to the electricity department, no permanent solution has been provided.

It appears that the power supply system in our locality is poorly maintained. The authorities should take immediate steps to repair faulty transformers and wires and ensure an uninterrupted electricity supply. Proper maintenance and quick response teams should also be arranged to deal with emergencies.

I hope the concerned department will take prompt action after reading this complaint in your newspaper.

Yours faithfully,

ABC

Q16. Describe M.C. Chagla's views on the Emergency, as expressed in his autobiography.

Ans. M.C. Chagla describes the period of Internal Emergency declared by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on 26 June 1975 as the “darkest hour” in Indian history. In his book ‘Roses in December’, he strongly criticizes the Emergency and considers it one of the gravest attacks on democracy and individual freedom in independent India. The Emergency lasted for about twenty months and, according to Chagla, brought fear, oppression, and injustice throughout the country.

Chagla believed that two important events led to the declaration of Emergency. The first was the victory of the Janata Party in the Gujarat elections, which weakened the political position of Mrs. Gandhi. The second was the judgment of the Allahabad High Court, which found Indira Gandhi guilty of corrupt electoral practices. According to Chagla, instead of resigning and respecting democratic traditions, she imposed the Emergency in order to retain power.

As soon as the Emergency was declared, opposition leaders were arrested during the night and thousands of political workers were imprisoned. Press censorship was imposed on an unprecedented scale, and citizens lost their fundamental freedoms. Chagla points out that Presidential Orders suspended important Fundamental Rights under Articles 14, 21, and 22 of the Constitution. Even the right to approach courts through writs such as habeas corpus was taken away.

Chagla writes that the country was suddenly covered with an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty. The names and whereabouts of detainees were often not disclosed, and people had no legal remedy against unlawful detention. According to him, “darkness swept over the country,” and the people were left without hope or freedom. He believed that there was actually no serious internal disturbance in the country that justified such drastic action.

Chagla was deeply disturbed by the misuse of constitutional powers during this period. He held Mrs. Gandhi mainly responsible for the suffering, injustice, and suppression faced by the people under the Emergency. He considered the entire period shameful for Indian democracy and felt that democratic institutions were weakened severely.

Even after the Emergency ended, Chagla observed that Indira Gandhi never openly admitted her mistake or expressed regret for the hardships caused to the people. Instead, she attempted to justify the Emergency and defend her actions. Chagla strongly disagreed with this attitude and believed that the people of India had suffered greatly because of authoritarian rule.

Thus, M.C. Chagla called the Emergency the “darkest hour” because it destroyed civil liberties, weakened democracy, suppressed freedom of expression, and created an atmosphere of fear and oppression in the country. In his view, it was one of the most painful and unfortunate periods in the history of independent India.

Q17. Describe M.C. Chagla's personality as the Chief Justice of Bombay.

Ans. M. C. Chagla is presented as a deeply committed, independent, and reform-oriented Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court. He assumed office on 15 August 1947, succeeding Sir Leonard Stone, at a crucial moment when India had just attained independence. Chagla describes that although he initially felt anxious and burdened by the immense responsibilities of the office, he approached his duties with determination, sincerity, and complete dedication.

One of the most striking aspects of Chagla’s personality as Chief Justice was his extraordinary sense of duty and discipline. He believed that the administration of justice required constant commitment and punctuality. In his autobiography, he proudly notes that he never absented himself from court even for a single day. To him, the satisfaction of performing judicial duties honestly was more valuable than any financial reward or additional salary. This reflects his deep respect for the judiciary and his belief that judges must serve as guardians of justice rather than seekers of privilege.

Chagla also displayed remarkable administrative insight and practical wisdom. Upon becoming Chief Justice, he carefully observed the weaknesses within the judicial system. He noticed that several judges lacked adequate judicial experience or had remained disconnected from actual judicial work for a long period. Chagla strongly believed that judges should either be selected from experienced practising advocates or from district judges actively engaged in judicial administration. According to him, only such persons could understand the realities of litigation and dispense effective justice. This reveals his practical and reformist approach towards the judiciary.

Another important feature of Chagla’s personality was his fearless independence. He firmly believed that the judiciary must remain impartial and should never function under government influence. Consequently, he delivered several judgments against the government whenever he felt that citizens’ rights or constitutional principles were being violated. He considered the judiciary to be the protector of individual liberty and democratic values.

His liberal and humanitarian outlook became particularly visible in matters relating to preventive detention. Chagla openly disliked and criticized the Preventive Detention Act because he believed that such laws could easily threaten personal freedom in a democratic society. Whenever he found loopholes, procedural irregularities, or misuse of power by the government, he did not hesitate to release detainees. This demonstrated his courage, compassion, and unwavering faith in civil liberties and the rule of law.

Chagla was also a great judicial reformer who sought to modernise and democratise the Bombay High Court. At that time, there existed distinctions and tensions between the Appellate Side and the Original Side of the court. Chagla attempted to remove these divisions and foster harmony within the legal profession. He emphasized that every advocate should have the right to practise on both sides of the court without discrimination. This reflected his belief in equality, professional unity, and fairness.

Furthermore, he worked to simplify and improve the judicial structure. He abolished the distinction between “pleaders” and “advocates,” thereby promoting equality among legal practitioners. He also changed the designation of subordinate judges to “Civil Judges,” which gave greater dignity and uniformity to the subordinate judiciary. These reforms indicate his progressive outlook and administrative efficiency.

Thus, as portrayed in Roses in December, M. C. Chagla emerges as a disciplined, fearless, liberal, and reform-minded Chief Justice. His integrity, devotion to duty, concern for civil liberties, and efforts to strengthen the judiciary made him one of the most respected judges in independent India.

Q18. You are Jacob Joes, a newspaper reporter. Write a report giving details of the sudden collapse of a bridge in your locality.

Ans.

02 Died, 09 Injured; Dhaula Kuan Flyover Collapses

By: Jacob Joes

Delhi, 27 April: Panic and chaos gripped the city last night when a 1.5-kilometre stretch of the Dhaula Kuan Flyover suddenly collapsed at around 11:00 p.m. near the busy Dhaula Kuan intersection. The tragic incident resulted in the death of two people, while nine others sustained serious injuries.

According to eyewitnesses, several vehicles were crossing the flyover when a large portion of the structure gave way unexpectedly. Within moments, cars, motorcycles, and other vehicles were trapped beneath the heavy debris. Loud cries for help and scenes of confusion filled the area as local residents rushed to assist the victims before rescue teams arrived.

The police, fire brigade, ambulance services, and disaster response teams immediately reached the spot and launched rescue operations. Due to the prompt action of the authorities, many people were rescued safely from the wreckage. The injured were rushed to nearby hospitals, where they are currently undergoing treatment. Traffic in the surrounding areas remained severely affected for several hours after the incident.

The exact cause of the collapse has not yet been determined. However, preliminary reports suggest that poor maintenance and structural weakness may have contributed to the disaster. Investigating agencies have begun a detailed inquiry to identify the reasons behind the collapse and fix responsibility for the negligence. Officials have assured the public that strict action will be taken against those found guilty.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta visited the site early this morning and expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives. She announced financial assistance for the families of the deceased and assured full support for the injured victims. The Chief Minister has also called an urgent meeting of concerned departments and authorities to review the safety condition of bridges and flyovers across the city.

The tragic collapse has once again raised serious concerns regarding public infrastructure safety and the negligence of civic authorities. Residents have demanded regular inspection and maintenance of bridges to prevent such unfortunate incidents in the future.