About this quiz
50 questions covering every section of the note.
This Lok Sewa practice set has 50 multiple-choice questions (Subject: Constitution of Nepal · For: Kharidar, Nayab Subba, Section Officer · Level: Easy). Take the quiz above first; after that, use the study list below to revise every question with its correct answer and a short explanation.
Study list: all 50 questions with answers and explanations
The judiciary is in which part of the Constitution?
- A) Part 9
- B) Part 11 ✔
- C) Part 13
- D) Part 15
Why: Part 11 of the Constitution of Nepal 2072, starting at Article 126, covers the judiciary: the Supreme Court, High Courts, District Courts, the Judicial Council and the Judicial Service Commission.
How many tiers of courts does Nepal have?
- A) Two
- B) Three ✔
- C) Four
- D) Five
Why: Nepal has a three-tier court system: the Supreme Court at the top, a High Court in each province, and a District Court in each district. Special courts and tribunals can also be set up by law.
How many High Courts are there in Nepal?
- A) 5
- B) 7 ✔
- C) 14
- D) 77
Why: There are 7 High Courts, one for each province, under Article 139. They hear appeals from District Courts and have writ jurisdiction within the province.
How many District Courts are there?
- A) 75
- B) 77 ✔
- C) 753
- D) 7
Why: There are 77 District Courts, one in each of Nepal's 77 districts. They are the courts of first instance for most civil and criminal cases.
The Supreme Court has the Chief Justice and up to how many other justices?
- A) 14
- B) 20 ✔
- C) 25
- D) 15
Why: Under Article 129, the Supreme Court has the Chief Justice and up to 20 other justices. Temporary (ad hoc) justices can also be appointed when needed.
The Chief Justice is appointed by the President on the recommendation of the:
- A) Judicial Council
- B) Constitutional Council ✔
- C) Prime Minister only
- D) Bar Association
Why: The President appoints the Chief Justice on the recommendation of the Constitutional Council, after a parliamentary hearing. Other Supreme Court justices are recommended by the Judicial Council.
The term of the Chief Justice is:
- A) 4 years
- B) 5 years
- C) 6 years ✔
- D) 7 years
Why: The Chief Justice serves a term of six years. The term ends earlier if he or she reaches the retirement age of 65, resigns or is removed by impeachment.
Retirement age of Supreme Court justices is:
- A) 60
- B) 63
- C) 65 ✔
- D) 70
Why: Supreme Court justices, including the Chief Justice, retire at 65 under Article 131. High Court judges retire earlier, at 63.
Retirement age of High Court judges is:
- A) 60
- B) 63 ✔
- C) 65
- D) 58
Why: High Court judges retire at 63 under Article 141, two years earlier than Supreme Court justices (65). District judges follow the age set by law.
Writ jurisdiction of the Supreme Court is in:
- A) Article 133 ✔
- B) Article 137
- C) Article 153
- D) Article 46 only
Why: Article 133 gives the Supreme Court extraordinary jurisdiction: it can issue writs such as habeas corpus, mandamus and certiorari to protect fundamental rights and hear public interest cases.
The Constitutional Bench is provided in:
- A) Article 133
- B) Article 137 ✔
- C) Article 153
- D) Article 154
Why: Article 137 creates a Constitutional Bench in the Supreme Court to decide important constitutional questions, such as disputes between levels of government and validity of laws.
The Constitutional Bench consists of the Chief Justice and:
- A) Two justices
- B) Four justices ✔
- C) Six justices
- D) All justices
Why: The Constitutional Bench has the Chief Justice and four other justices, chosen by the Chief Justice on the Judicial Council's recommendation. So it has five members in all.
Who chairs the Judicial Council?
- A) Minister of Law
- B) Chief Justice ✔
- C) President
- D) Speaker
Why: The Chief Justice chairs the Judicial Council. Its other members are the Law Minister, the senior-most Supreme Court justice, a jurist nominated by the President and a senior advocate nominated by the Nepal Bar.
The Judicial Council is provided in:
- A) Article 153 ✔
- B) Article 154
- C) Article 126
- D) Article 101
Why: The Judicial Council is set up under Article 153. It recommends the appointment, transfer and disciplinary action of judges, except the Chief Justice.
Which body appoints gazetted officers of the judicial service?
- A) Judicial Service Commission ✔
- B) PSC
- C) Judicial Council
- D) Election Commission
Why: The Judicial Service Commission (Article 154) handles the appointment, transfer and promotion of gazetted officers of the judicial service, such as registrars. PSC deals with the civil service.
Supreme Court justices can be removed by:
- A) Impeachment ✔
- B) Cabinet decision
- C) Referendum
- D) Order of the President alone
Why: Supreme Court justices, including the Chief Justice, can be removed only by impeachment under Article 101, passed by a two-thirds majority of the House of Representatives. This protects judicial independence.
Who was the first woman Chief Justice of Nepal?
- A) Sushila Karki ✔
- B) Sapana Pradhan Malla
- C) Bidya Devi Bhandari
- D) Mira Dhungana
Why: Sushila Karki became Nepal's first woman Chief Justice in 2073 BS (2016 AD). Sapana Pradhan Malla is a Supreme Court justice, and Bidya Devi Bhandari was the first woman President.
A court whose decisions are recorded and binding as precedent is a:
- A) Court of record ✔
- B) Tribunal
- C) Mediation centre
- D) Arbitration body
Why: A court of record keeps permanent records of its decisions, which can be used as precedent, and it can punish contempt. The Supreme Court of Nepal is a court of record.
A Senior Advocate in the Judicial Council is nominated by the:
- A) Nepal Bar Association ✔
- B) Prime Minister
- C) President
- D) Speaker
Why: One member of the Judicial Council is a senior advocate or advocate with at least 20 years' experience, nominated by the Nepal Bar Association, representing the legal profession.
Before appointment, the Chief Justice must face a:
- A) Parliamentary hearing ✔
- B) Referendum
- C) Written exam
- D) Public vote
Why: The Chief Justice and Supreme Court justices must face a hearing by the Parliamentary Hearing Committee before appointment (Article 292), so Parliament can check their suitability.
Article 126 of the constitution says powers relating to justice are exercised by:
- A) Courts and judicial bodies ✔
- B) Government
- C) Parliament
- D) Police
Why: Article 126 says that powers relating to justice are exercised by courts and other judicial bodies, according to the Constitution, laws and recognised principles of justice.
The Supreme Court is the court of:
- A) Record ✔
- B) First instance only
- C) Tribunal
- D) Administrative appeal only
Why: The Supreme Court is a court of record: it keeps its judgments as a permanent record and can punish anyone who shows contempt of court.
The final authority to interpret the constitution is the:
- A) Supreme Court ✔
- B) Parliament
- C) President
- D) Law Ministry
Why: The Supreme Court has the final authority to interpret the Constitution and laws. Its interpretation must be followed by all courts, offices and authorities.
Apart from the Chief Justice, the Supreme Court can have up to how many justices?
- A) 20 ✔
- B) 15
- C) 25
- D) 10
Why: Article 129 allows up to 20 justices besides the Chief Justice, so the Supreme Court can have up to 21 judges in total.
Which body recommends the Chief Justice for appointment?
- A) Constitutional Council ✔
- B) Judicial Council
- C) Parliament
- D) Bar Association
Why: The Constitutional Council, chaired by the Prime Minister, recommends the Chief Justice. The Judicial Council recommends the other justices.
Supreme Court justices are appointed by the President on the recommendation of the:
- A) Judicial Council ✔
- B) Constitutional Council
- C) PM
- D) Speaker
Why: Other Supreme Court justices are appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Judicial Council, after a parliamentary hearing. Only the Chief Justice comes through the Constitutional Council.
Chief Justice's term is:
- A) 6 years ✔
- B) 5 years
- C) 4 years
- D) Until 70
Why: The Chief Justice's term is six years, or less if the retirement age of 65 is reached first. 'Until 70' is wrong: no judge serves past 65.
Retirement age for Supreme Court justices is:
- A) 65 years ✔
- B) 63 years
- C) 60 years
- D) 70 years
Why: Supreme Court justices retire at 65 years under Article 131. Remember the pair: Supreme Court 65, High Court 63.
Retirement age for High Court judges is:
- A) 63 years ✔
- B) 65 years
- C) 60 years
- D) 58 years
Why: High Court judges retire at 63 years under Article 141. A High Court judge can still be appointed to the Supreme Court before that age.
How many High Courts are there in Nepal?
- A) 7 ✔
- B) 14
- C) 5
- D) 77
Why: Nepal has 7 High Courts, matching its 7 provinces, under Article 139. Each can also run benches in other places within its province.
High Courts are established under Article:
- A) 139 ✔
- B) 128
- C) 147
- D) 153
Why: Article 139 establishes a High Court in each province. Article 128 is about the Supreme Court, and Article 153 about the Judicial Council.
The Constitutional Bench consists of the Chief Justice and:
- A) Four other justices ✔
- B) Two justices
- C) Six justices
- D) All justices
Why: The Constitutional Bench has five judges: the Chief Justice plus four other justices, designated on the Judicial Council's recommendation (Article 137).
The Judicial Council is chaired by the:
- A) Chief Justice ✔
- B) Law Minister
- C) President
- D) Senior-most justice
Why: The Chief Justice chairs the Judicial Council (Article 153). The Law Minister is a member, but not the chair.
Which member of the Judicial Council is nominated by the Nepal Bar Association?
- A) A senior advocate or advocate ✔
- B) The Law Minister
- C) A senior judge
- D) The Attorney General
Why: The Nepal Bar Association nominates a senior advocate or advocate with at least 20 years' experience to the Judicial Council, so lawyers have a voice in judicial appointments.
The Judicial Service Commission is provided in Article:
- A) 154 ✔
- B) 153
- C) 242
- D) 129
Why: Article 154 provides the Judicial Service Commission. It deals with appointments, transfers and promotions of gazetted officers in the judicial service.
The Judicial Service Commission is chaired by the:
- A) Chief Justice ✔
- B) Law Minister
- C) PSC Chair
- D) Attorney General
Why: The Chief Justice chairs the Judicial Service Commission. Members include the Law Minister, the senior-most Supreme Court justice, the PSC chairperson and the Attorney General.
Supreme Court justices can be removed by:
- A) Impeachment by two-thirds of the HoR ✔
- B) The President alone
- C) The PM
- D) The Judicial Council
Why: Removal is by impeachment under Article 101, which needs a two-thirds majority of the total members of the House of Representatives. The President, PM or Judicial Council cannot remove them.
The first woman Chief Justice of Nepal was:
- A) Sushila Karki ✔
- B) Kalyan Shrestha
- C) Om Prakash Mishra
- D) Gopal Parajuli
Why: Sushila Karki became the first woman Chief Justice in 2073 BS (2016 AD). The other names are male Chief Justices of Nepal.
Before appointment, the Chief Justice must pass a:
- A) Parliamentary hearing ✔
- B) Written exam
- C) Public vote
- D) Medical exam only
Why: Article 292 requires a parliamentary hearing for the Chief Justice, Supreme Court justices and heads of constitutional bodies before their appointment.
District Courts in Nepal number:
- A) 77 ✔
- B) 75
- C) 7
- D) 14
Why: There are 77 District Courts, one in each district. The number 75 is the old count of districts before 2072, when two districts were split to make 77.
Writ jurisdiction of High Courts is under Article:
- A) 144 ✔
- B) 133
- C) 139
- D) 153
Why: Article 144 gives High Courts writ jurisdiction, so people can seek habeas corpus, mandamus and other writs at the province level, not only at the Supreme Court.
Public interest litigation (PIL) is filed under:
- A) Extraordinary jurisdiction ✔
- B) Original civil jurisdiction
- C) Appellate jurisdiction
- D) Arbitration
Why: Public interest litigation is filed under the Supreme Court's extraordinary jurisdiction (Article 133), where any person can raise an issue of public concern even if not personally affected.
Contempt of court can be punished by the:
- A) Supreme Court and other courts ✔
- B) Police
- C) Parliament
- D) CIAA
Why: The Supreme Court, as a court of record, can punish contempt, and other courts can also act against contempt under law. Police, Parliament and CIAA do not have this power.
Judgments of the Supreme Court are binding on:
- A) All courts and authorities ✔
- B) Only district courts
- C) Only Parliament
- D) Nobody
Why: Any legal principle or interpretation set by the Supreme Court must be followed by all courts, government offices and authorities in Nepal.
Who appoints judges of High Courts?
- A) Chief Justice on Judicial Council recommendation ✔
- B) President
- C) PM
- D) Province Head
Why: Under Article 140, the Chief Justice appoints High Court judges on the recommendation of the Judicial Council. The President appoints only Supreme Court judges.
Who appoints District Court judges?
- A) Chief Justice on Judicial Council recommendation ✔
- B) President
- C) Law Minister
- D) CDO
Why: Under Article 149, the Chief Justice appoints District Court judges on the recommendation of the Judicial Council. The Law Minister and CDO have no role in this.
The Attorney General is the chief legal adviser to the:
- A) Government of Nepal ✔
- B) Supreme Court
- C) President only
- D) Parliament
Why: Under Article 158, the Attorney General is the chief legal adviser to the Government of Nepal and represents the government in cases. He or she is appointed by the President on the PM's recommendation.
Special courts and tribunals can be formed by:
- A) Federal law ✔
- B) Province police
- C) Local wards
- D) Political parties
Why: Article 127 allows special courts, tribunals and judicial bodies to be formed by federal law, for example the Special Court for corruption cases.
Judicial committees at the local level are headed by the:
- A) Deputy Mayor/Vice-chair ✔
- B) Mayor
- C) Ward member
- D) CDO
Why: Under Article 217, each municipality and rural municipality has a judicial committee to settle local disputes. It is coordinated by the deputy mayor or vice-chairperson.
Who is the head of the judiciary?
- A) Chief Justice ✔
- B) Law Minister
- C) President
- D) Attorney General
Why: The Chief Justice is the head of Nepal's judiciary. He or she leads the Supreme Court, chairs the Judicial Council and the Judicial Service Commission, and manages the courts.