QUESTION 11
GS2
15 marks
Constitutional morality is the fulcrum which acts as an essential check upon the high functionaries and citizens alike...." In view of the above observation of the Supreme Court, explain the concept of constitutional morality and its application to ensure balance between judicial independence and judicial accountability in India.
WRITE IN
11 min
250 words
What the examiner wants
Explain constitutional morality and how it helps balance judicial independence with judicial accountability.
ExplainMake clear how and why it happens: causes, process, and an example for each point.
Demand-wise check
- 1Concept: Ambedkar's term; adherence to constitutional values beyond text; cases (Naz Foundation, Navtej Johar, Sabarimala, Manoj Narula)≈65 words
- 2Judicial independence: tenure, collegium, contempt≈65 words
- 3Accountability: in-house procedure (1999), impeachment, RTI on assets (CPIO v. Subhash Chandra Agrawal 2019), transparency in appointments≈65 words
Open in about 30 words and close in about 30.
Answer plan
ConceptApplicationsIndependence vs accountabilityMechanismsConclusion
Where marks usually go
- Only defining constitutional morality
- Not discussing judicial accountability
Draw this
- Balance scale diagram
Value addition
- Case lawManoj Narula v. Union of India (2014): constitutional morality restrains high functionaries.Supreme Court of India, 2014
- Case lawCPIO, Supreme Court v. Subhash Chandra Agrawal (2019): the CJI's office is a public authority under RTI.Supreme Court of India, 2019
Mapped topper copies
Reviewed public-source references related to this PYQ. Same-syllabus references are labelled separately.
- Alfred Thomas · Page 15 ↗Reviewed PYQ reference
- Aditya Srivastava · AIR 1 · Page 29 ↗Same syllabus reference
- Akash Kumar · AIR 101 · Page 15 ↗Same syllabus reference
- Akash Kumar · AIR 101 · Page 7 ↗Same syllabus reference
Links open original public sources. MainsBuddy does not host these answer sheets.
Next: plan for one minute, write it in 11 minutes, then get it checked.