GK Question

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The Supreme Court has evolved the concept of 'continuing mandamus' to monitor implementation of Constitutional Morality-based directions in public interest cases by keeping the writ petition ______ and issuing periodic directions to executive agencies.

  1. closed
  2. pending
  3. dismissed
  4. transferred

Answer: pending

Continuing mandamus and Constitutional Morality: (a) Mechanism: Court keeps writ petition pending while issuing periodic directions to executive agencies to ensure compliance with orders in PIL cases (e.g., environmental protection, police reforms, gender justice), (b) Features: (i) Regular reporting by agencies on progress, (ii) Court reviews implementation, issues further directions, (iii) Enables judicial monitoring without usurping executive function, (c) Constitutional Morality application: (i) Bridges gap between rights recognition and implementation, (ii) Ensures constitutional values operationalized in practice, not just declared in judgments, (iii) Respects separation of powers: courts guide, executive implements, (d) Applications: (i) MC Mehta cases (environmental compliance), (ii) Prakash Singh case (police reforms), (iii) Vishaka guidelines implementation (workplace harassment), (e) Balance: Judicial oversight ensures rights realization; separation of powers respected by not dictating policy details. Illustrates innovative enforcement: courts sustain engagement to realize constitutional values.

Topic Constitutional Morality - Continuing Mandamus Innovation
Exam Relevance Continuing mandamus and constitutional morality critical for UPSC Mains and Judiciary exams