Question

What is the central thesis of the above extract?

• A. The practice of untouchability takes various forms in modern India.
• B. The imagination of justice for the rich and poor is vastly different.
• C. Addressing judge strength and case-load management does not affect the performance of the judicial system.
• D. Protecting the livelihood of traditional taxi drivers is contrary to the goals of ease of doing business
• A. The poor do not have easy access to the justice system.
• B. Courts do not list bail petitions of poor undertrial prisoners who populate the country’s jails.
• C. The poor reject the judicial system as being alien to their language and logic.
• D. The rich are excluded from the country’s prisons, which are mostly populated by the poor.
• A. Symbiotic
• B. Affective
• C. Conflicting
• D. Inter-dependent
• A. The judicial system reflects the same power relationships as those that exist in society.
• B. Access to the judicial system is determined more by a person’s economic status such as wealth and income, than by their social status, such as religion and caste.
• C. The judicial system was made by the rich, for the rich, of the rich.
• D. None of the above.
• A. A truly representative democracy would ensure that the interests of the poor are also represented in the judicial system.
• B. The Law ensures equality both in text and in practise.
• C. The poor suffer most at the hands of lawyers and touts, compared to judges who might still pronounce judgments in their favour from time to time.
• D. All of the above.
• A. Persons across socio-economic strata agree on the need to reform judicial administration.
• B. There is consensus among political parties across the ideological and regional spectrum on reforms to judicial administration.
• C. Reforms to judicial administration do not favour one class of people over another
• D. Reform of judicial administration is mandated by the Constitution, and thus lies beyond political considerations.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the context of the passage:
The passage discusses the issue of justice in India, contrasting the access to justice for the middle class versus the poor. It highlights the challenges faced by the poor in accessing the judicial system and the stark difference in perceptions of justice between the two groups. The author contrasts how the middle class views justice and judicial reform with the poor’s experience of justice.

Step 2: Identifying the key point in the passage:
The passage points out that the rich and middle class have reasonable access to justice, whereas the poor face significant barriers in accessing both civil and criminal justice. The main issue is the different ways justice is imagined and understood by these two groups. The middle class demands access to justice and reform, while the poor view the justice system as something to avoid, as it is often a place of punishment rather than protection.

Step 3: Analyzing the central thesis:
The core of the passage emphasizes that the perceptions of justice for the rich and poor are vastly different. For the rich and middle class, justice is a system to protect rights, while for the poor, it is often seen as a system of oppression or punishment. The passage discusses how these competing visions of justice reflect the deep divides in the social structure.

Step 4: Conclusion:
The correct answer is The imagination of justice for the rich and poor is vastly different, as this encapsulates the central thesis of the passage that contrasts how the middle class and the poor perceive and experience justice in India.

Answer 2

Step 1: Understanding the term 'docket-excluded':
In the second paragraph of the passage, the author uses the term ‘docket-excluded’ to describe the experience of the poor in relation to the justice system. This term is used to convey that the poor are often excluded from the legal process or system, meaning they do not have the ability or opportunity to access the courts or seek justice easily.

Step 2: Analyzing the context of the term in the passage:
The author discusses how the poor are often victimized by the judicial system, which is inaccessible to them. The passage mentions that the poor are "docket-excluded," implying that they are not included in the legal process or are unable to navigate the complexities of the judicial system. This exclusion from the docket (the official list of cases) suggests that they have limited or no access to legal proceedings or remedies.

Step 3: Connecting this to the correct interpretation:
The term 'docket-excluded' points to the idea that the poor face significant barriers in accessing the justice system. This includes being unable to file cases or seek legal redress due to factors such as economic constraints, lack of legal knowledge, and exploitation by corrupt intermediaries (like lawyers and court staff).

Step 4: Conclusion:
The correct answer is The poor do not have easy access to the justice system, as ‘docket-excluded’ highlights the systemic barriers that prevent the poor from engaging with the judicial process and securing justice.

Answer 3

Step 1: Understanding the context of the passage:
The passage discusses the disparities in how different segments of society experience the justice system in India. It contrasts the experiences of the middle class with those of the poor. The middle class is described as viewing the justice system as a protector of rights, while the poor see it as a place of punishment. This creates a stark contrast in how justice is perceived by these two groups.

Step 2: Analyzing the conflicting experiences:
The middle class, with greater access to resources and legal support, views the justice system as a means to protect their rights and interests. In contrast, the poor, who are often excluded from the legal system and subjected to its shortcomings, experience the system as a source of oppression and punishment. The passage highlights this divide, showing how these differing experiences reflect broader social inequalities.

Step 3: Understanding the use of the word "conflicting":
The word "conflicting" refers to the opposite and contradictory nature of the experiences that the middle class and the poor have with the justice system. The middle class believes it is a place for the protection of rights, while the poor view it as a punitive institution. These are two vastly different perspectives, illustrating the divide in the way justice is perceived and experienced by different social classes.

Step 4: Conclusion:
The correct answer is option (C): Conflicting, as the passage clearly highlights the contrasting views of the middle class and the poor regarding the justice system.

Answer 4

Step 1: Understanding the context of the passage:
The passage discusses the disparities in the access to justice between different segments of society in India. It emphasizes how the middle class has reasonable access to the judicial system, while the poor face significant barriers, leading to an unequal experience of justice. The author uses this to highlight how the justice system mirrors the social power dynamics in society.

Step 2: Analyzing the power dynamics in the judicial system:
The passage suggests that the judicial system is not neutral but reflects the power relationships that exist in the broader society. The middle class, which holds more power and resources, can navigate the judicial system more easily and views it as a protector of rights. In contrast, the poor are marginalized and excluded from the system, often becoming victims of its injustices, much like they are in the wider social and economic structures.

Step 3: Understanding the significance of the statement:
The author argues that the inequalities in the judicial system—where the middle class is favored and the poor are excluded—reflect the broader societal power imbalances. This comparison draws attention to how the justice system does not operate independently but is shaped by the same social hierarchies that influence other aspects of life.

Step 4: Conclusion:
The correct answer is option (A): The judicial system reflects the same power relationships as those that exist in society, as the passage makes the point that the judicial system's treatment of the middle class and the poor mirrors the wider societal power dynamics.

Answer 5

Step 1: Understanding the context of the passage:
The passage discusses how the justice system in India operates differently for various social classes. It points out that while the law might look impartial in theory, its application in practice is not equal. The poor, in particular, face significant challenges accessing justice, and the law, in practice, tends to favor the wealthy and the middle class.

Step 2: Analyzing the author's critique of the justice system:
The author argues that the justice system is inherently biased against the poor. The passage mentions that the poor are often victimized by the judicial system, which is filled with obstacles such as exploitation by lawyers and court staff. The system’s complexity and the alien nature of legal language and processes further marginalize the poor, creating a disconnect between the law as written and how it is applied.

Step 3: Examining the provided options:
- Option (B) states, "The Law ensures equality both in text and in practice." This option is clearly in contrast to the passage’s argument. The passage suggests that while the law may claim equality in text, in practice it does not deliver on that promise, particularly for the poor.

- Other options may better reflect the passage's critique of the justice system being biased in favor of the middle and upper classes while excluding the poor from its protections.

Step 4: Conclusion:
The correct answer is option (B): The Law ensures equality both in text and in practice, as it suggests that the law, though ideally written to ensure equality, does not achieve that goal when applied in practice, especially for marginalized groups.

Answer 6

Step 1: Understanding the context of judicial reforms:
The passage discusses the efforts of judicial reform in India, particularly focusing on areas like process reform, procedural law, technology, case management, and judicial workload. These reforms are framed as neutral measures that aim to improve the efficiency of the judicial system. Importantly, the reforms are not designed to favor any particular social class or group but to address systemic issues that affect all groups equally.

Step 2: Analyzing the neutrality of the reforms:
The author highlights that judicial reforms, while improving the functioning of the courts, are mainly focused on neutral aspects like making the legal processes more efficient, managing case loads, improving technology in courts, and streamlining procedures. These reforms are not biased toward any social or economic group, and they aim to make the judicial system more accessible and efficient for everyone, regardless of class.

Step 3: Reviewing the provided options:
- Option (C) states that "Reforms to judicial administration do not favour one class of people over another," which directly reflects the passage's description of reforms being neutral and not aimed at benefiting any particular group more than another.

- The passage makes clear that while judicial reform has made progress, it has largely remained within the realm of neutral improvements (e.g., case management, technology, process reform), and these do not cater to any specific social or economic class.

Step 4: Conclusion:
The correct answer is option (C): Reforms to judicial administration do not favour one class of people over another, as the passage emphasizes the neutrality of judicial reforms and how they are designed to improve the judicial process for all segments of society equally.