RAS question
A judge of the Supreme Court can be removed by the President only after:
Correct answer: (C) An address by each House of Parliament with special majority.
A judge of the Supreme Court can be removed by the President only after each House of Parliament presents an address supported by the required special majority.
Explanation
Article 124(4) makes removal of a Supreme Court judge deliberately difficult. The President cannot act merely on advice from a single office-holder or on an ordinary parliamentary vote. The official constitutional text says the President's removal order can be passed only after an address by each House of Parliament is presented in the same session. That address must be backed by both a majority of the total membership of that House and at least two-thirds of the members present and voting. The ground is also limited: proved misbehaviour or incapacity. So option C is right because it captures both institutional requirements: approval by each House and the special-majority threshold.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) The Chief Justice of India's recommendation alone cannot remove a Supreme Court judge because Article 124(4) requires an address by each House of Parliament before the President's order.
- (B) The Attorney General's recommendation is not the constitutional trigger for removal; the text requires parliamentary addresses supported by the specified special majority.
- (D) A simple-majority resolution of the Lok Sabha is insufficient because Article 124(4) requires each House to support the address by a majority of total membership and by at least two-thirds of members present and voting.
Concept
This tests judicial independence under the Constitution, especially the high threshold for removing Supreme Court judges. RAS repeats this area because it links constitutional offices, Parliament's role, and checks on arbitrary removal.