The question (6 marks)
A student is handed a printed page which begins: PETITIONER: KEDAR NATH SINGH Vs. RESPONDENT: STATE OF BIHAR, DATE OF JUDGMENT: 20/01/1962, BENCH: SINHA, BHUVNESHWAR P.(CJ), DAS, S.K., SARKAR, A.K., AYYANGAR, N. RAJAGOPALA, MUDHOLKAR, J.R., CITATION: 1962 AIR 955, 1962 SCR Supl. (2) 769. She is then shown a paragraph from the same report summarising the decision, printed before the judges' opinions. (a) Decode the printed page, stating how many judges sat, who presided, and where the judgment is reported. (b) What is the paragraph printed before the opinions, and with what caution must a student use it? (6 marks)
MU Module II, head 2.2; pack ch. 02, anatomy of a reported judgment.
Plan your answer on paper before you look at the authorities — issue first, then the rule, then apply it to these facts.
It tests Unit 2 · Legal Concepts, Reading Judgments and Trials of Legal Writing and Legal Language.
Authorities you will need
- Kedar Nath Singh v State of Bihar
- Maneka Gandhi v Union of India
- Municipal Council, Ratlam v Vardichand
- Constitution of India, article 32
How an answer is marked
A full-marks answer names the issue in one line, states the rule with its section, cites the authority, applies it to these facts and concludes — in that order. The app's model answer for this question is written in exactly that shape, with a checklist to mark your own attempt against.