English - II : Previous Year Questions (2021)

PART – A

Q1. Write Mr. Chagla's views on Freedom of Press.

Ans. Chagla believed that freedom of the press should not only mean absence of legal restrictions on what can be printed, but also true independence from advertising, commercial pressure, and the influence of financiers, so that the press can function honestly and impartially.

Q2. Which was the first important case in Chagla's life?

Ans. Trunk Murder Case. While many thought of Chagla as mainly a civil lawyer, this famous criminal case proved his skills to everyone. A man had been murdered, and his body was found packed in a trunk that was left in a taxi and later dumped in a well. Chagla represented the second accused person in the trial. Despite the "overwhelming evidence" and the gruesome nature of the crime, he managed to secure an acquittal for his client.

Q3. Who was the Magistrate when the Meerut Conspiracy Trial was going on?

Ans. Mr. R. Milner White was the magistrate when the Meerut conspiracy trial was going on.

Q4. Who said that, "The best advocacy was to help the judge to write his judgement"?

Ans. Lord Macmillan said that the best advocacy was to help the judge to write his judgement.

Q5. From whom did Mr. Chagla take the charge of Chief Justice of Bombay?

Ans. On August 15, 1947 Mr Chagla took the charge of the office of chief justice of Bombay High court from Sir Leonard Stone.

Q6. Express Mr. Chagla's view on the appointment of the Judges.

Ans. Chagla was of the view that appointments of judges should be initiated by the Chief Justice rather than the Government, so as to ensure a strong, independent judiciary free from pressure or political influence in selecting High Court judges.

Q7. Which title was given to M.S. Subbulakshmi by Chagla?

Ans. In April 1955, Chagla presided over a very large meeting in Bombay to felicitate M. S. Subbulakshmi when she was awarded the title of “Padma Bhushan”. Chagla called her the Mira Bai of South India.

Q8. What was Chagla's only object while writing a Judgement?

Ans. Chagla’s only object while writing a judgement was to be brief and to be clear, precise and lucid in whatever views he expressed.

Q9. What was Chagla's opinion regarding Secularism?

Ans. Chagla’s view on secularism was that real secularism means judging a person on merit and ability, not on community or religion; therefore, a less qualified person should not be preferred merely because he belongs to a minority community.

Q10. Which was the first confrontation between Chagla and Morarji Desai?

Ans. The first confrontation with Morarji was with regard to the appointment of Lad, who was the legal remembrance, where Mr Chagla submitted the name of a district judge who was junior to Lad, and Morarji replied by enquiring why Lad who was the senior district judge, had been passed over.

PART – B

Q11. Explain the following terms:

1. Monsieur - A Frenchman of high rank or station; used as a title equivalent to Mr. and prefixed to the name of a Frenchman.

Sentence: The hotel staff greeted Monsieur Dupont politely at the entrance.

2. Sans – Without

Sentence: He attended the meeting sans his assistant.

3. Suo jure - In one’s own right.

Sentence: She became the owner of the property suo jure after her father’s death.

4. Milieu - The people, physical & social conditions, and events that provide the environment in which someone acts or lives.

Sentence: He grew up in an academic milieu that encouraged critical thinking.

5. Summum Bonum - The highest good.

Sentence: According to philosophers, happiness is considered the summum bonum of life.

6. En Route - On the way to or from somewhere.

Sentence: We stopped for tea en route to Shimla.

Q12. Explain the following idioms:

1. An apple of discord - a small issue, object, or person that causes a large, long-lasting argument, envy, or contention.

Sentence: The ancestral property became an apple of discord among the brothers.

2. Bell the cat - to face the risk

Sentence: It is easy to suggest reforms, but who will bell the cat and confront the authorities?

3. Break the ice - to break the silence / make start

Sentence: The teacher told a joke to break the ice on the first day of class.

4. Down and out - Without money, home, or prospects; completely destitute.

Sentence: After losing his job and savings, he was left down and out.

5. Hard-nosed attitude - A strict, practical, and unsentimental approach.

Sentence: The manager’s hard-nosed attitude helped improve the company’s performance.

6. White elephant - Something expensive but useless or difficult to maintain.

Sentence: The large stadium built in the village turned out to be a white elephant.

Q13. Write one word for:

1. One who is out to destroy all governments, peace and order – Anarchist
2. A lover of Mankind – Philanthropist
3. One who is hard to please – Fastidious
4. A speech made without preparation – Extempore
5. A matter written by hand – Manuscript
6. One who hates war and loves peace – Pacifist

Q14. Form two words using following affixes:

1. Prefixes:

Un - Unhappy, Unfair

Im - Impossible, Impolite

Mis - Misunderstand, Misuse

2. Suffixes:

ness - Happiness, Kindness

ship - Friendship, Leadership

hood - Childhood, Neighbourhood

PART – C

Q15. Write a letter to the Health Officer of your town complaining about the insanitary conditions of the colony in which you live.

Ans.

54, Mahesh Marg

Bapu Nagar

Jaipur

Date: 8 May 2026

To

The Health Officer

Municipal Health Department

Jaipur, Rajasthan

Subject: Complaint Regarding Insanitary Conditions in Our Colony

Respected Sir/Madam,

I wish to draw your attention to the extremely poor sanitary conditions in our colony, which have become a serious threat to public health and hygiene. The area is suffering from improper garbage disposal, clogged drains, and the presence of stagnant water.

Due to the regular overflow of drains, foul smell spreads throughout the locality, making it difficult for residents to live comfortably. Mosquitoes and flies have increased rapidly, leading to cases of dengue, malaria, and other infections among children and elderly people.

The garbage collection system is irregular, and waste is often left uncollected for several days. This has worsened the unhygienic conditions in the colony. There is also a lack of proper cleaning and maintenance by the municipal staff.

I therefore request you to kindly take immediate action to improve the sanitation facilities. Regular cleaning of drains, timely garbage collection, and proper fumigation should be arranged without delay.

I hope you will treat this matter with urgency and help restore cleanliness and health in our colony.

Thanking you.

Yours faithfully,

ABC

Q16. What are the key points which we need to keep in mind while writing a letter?

Ans. Letter writing is an important form of communication. A good letter should be clear, polite, and properly structured so that the message is effectively conveyed to the reader. The following points are essential to keep in mind:

1. Clarity and Conciseness - A letter should be written in simple, clear, and direct language. Unnecessary details and long sentences should be avoided. The message should be expressed in a concise manner so that the reader can easily understand the purpose of the letter.
2. Proper Structure - A well-written letter should follow a proper format, including address, date, salutation, body, and closing. The body of the letter should be divided into paragraphs for better readability and logical flow of ideas.
3. Formal and Appropriate Language - The tone of the letter should be suitable to the purpose. Formal letters should use respectful and professional language, while informal letters may be more personal. However, harsh or offensive language should always be avoided.
4. Focus on the Main Idea - A letter should deal with a single topic or central idea. Mixing different issues can create confusion and reduce the effectiveness of the message. Staying focused helps in communicating the purpose clearly.
5. Courtesy and Politeness - A good letter should always be polite and respectful, even when complaining or making a request. Courtesy creates a positive impression and increases the chances of a favourable response.
6. Accuracy and Correct Information - The information given in the letter should be correct and complete. Facts, names, dates, and details must be accurate to maintain credibility.
7. Proper Closing - A letter should end with an appropriate closing such as “Yours faithfully” or “Yours sincerely,” followed by the sender’s name and signature.

Thus, effective letter writing requires clarity, proper structure, politeness, accuracy, and focus. Following these essentials ensures that the message is communicated successfully and leaves a good impression on the reader.

Q17. Explain M.C. Chagla's views on '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.

Q18. Write a brief note on the 'Loss of Vehicle'.

Ans.

Police Report:

• Name of Police Station: Gandhi Nagar Police Station
• Name of Investigating Office: S.I. Harikishan Singh
• F.I.R. No.: FIR/2026/123
• Date of F.I.R.: 20 April 2026
• Time of F.I.R.: About 10:00 A.M.

Incident Details:

• Date: 19 April 2026
• Time: About 10:30 P.M.
• Place of Occurrence: Parking Lot, Golden Heights Apartment, Jaipur

Vehicle Information:

• Name of Complainant: Ravish Kumar
• Vehicle Registration No.: RJ 14 CA 3088
• Engine No.: 5A2N789241
• Chassis No.: BA1L203475
• Car Model: Range Rover Vogue
• Name of Registered Owner: Ravish Kumar

Information with regard to the Accused:

1. Name and Parentage of Accused:

• Accused – Pyarelal
• Accused’s’ Fathers’ Name – Gopilal
• Accused’s Mothers’ Name - Shyama

2. Any evidence with regard to the presence of accused near the crime scene:

The man captured in the C.C.T.V, who stole the car, has a resemblance with Pyarelal

Name and Statement of Eyewitness:

• Name of Witness – Gopikishan
• Statement – “I saw Gopikishan going into the parking lot, wearing a monkey cap and shawl.

Witness has identified the accused and the vehicle correctly.

Details of Arrest of Accused:

Upon the evidence, i.e., C.C.T.V. footage and statement of eyewitness – Gopikishan, Pyarelal was arrested.

• Date: 22 April 2026
• Time: About 2 P.M.
• Place: Pyarelal’s garage at Imli Phatak

Recovery of Vehicle:

• Date: 22 April 2026
• Place: Imli Phatak Garage, Tonk Road
• Possession: Accused is the owner of the place of recovery.

List of Evidence:

1. C.C.T.V. Footage “4:05:67:8:91:A26”
2. Statement of Eyewitness.

Trial:

• Section Charged: 303 BNS

Conclusion

Stolen Range Rover Vogue is recovered. Accused is convicted. No appeal was made.