With the evolving pattern of the CLAT, which now focuses heavily on legal reasoning and application-based questions, mastering this section has become crucial for aspirants targeting top NLUs. To support effective preparation, a curated set of 45 high-quality CLAT legal reasoning questions has been compiled, covering key concepts such as contracts, torts, criminal law, and constitutional principles. Many aspirants today rely on India’s best online CLAT coaching platforms to strengthen their preparation and stay aligned with the latest exam trends.
Top 45 Legal Reasoning Questions
Check out the Legal reasoning questions for CLAT below:
Principle: Any agreement made with a minor is void.
Fact: A 16-year-old boy borrowed ₹10,000 from a shopkeeper, promising to repay it in a month. He later refused to pay.
- The boy must repay the amount.
- The boy is not liable to repay since the agreement is void.
- The boy’s parents must repay the amount.
- The shopkeeper can sue the boy in a civil court.
Answer: B
Principle: Penal laws provide that whoever voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man or woman shall be punished for rape.
Factual Situation: A Police Officer found a man engaged in carnal intercourse with an animal. The Police Officer arrested the man and produced him before the Court.
- The court will punish the police officer.
- The court will not punish the police officer.
- The court will not punish the man for rape.
- The court will punish the man for rape.
Answer: C
What does the legal term Caveat Emptor refer to?
- Let the buyer beware
- According to the value
- An unwelcome person
- Beyond the powers
Answer: A
Principle: Where one of the parties to a contract was in a position to dominate the decision of the other party, the contract is enforceable only at the option of the party who was in a position to dominate the decision of the other party.
FACTUAL SITUATION: A doctor asked his patient to pay 10 lakh for the treatment of his fever. The patient paid rupees 5 Lakh and promised to pay the remaining amount after the treatment. After treatment, the patient recovered from the fever. The doctor demanded the remaining amount from the patient. The patient refused to pay.
- The contract is not enforceable without the patient’s consent.
- The contract is enforceable against the doctor.
- The contract is unenforceable because the doctor was in a position of dominance.
- The contract is enforceable against the patient by the doctor.
Answer: D
Principle: A person who finds goods belonging to another must take care of them as a reasonable person would.
Fact: Amit found a gold necklace in a park and kept it in his drawer. A month later, it was stolen from his house.
- Amit is not responsible as he did not steal the necklace.
- Amit is liable as he failed to take reasonable care of the necklace.
- Amit can keep the necklace as he found it.
- Amit should have sold the necklace to avoid liability.
Answer: B
Which of the following is the oldest High Court in India?
- High Court of Madras
- High Court of Calcutta
- High Court of Delhi
- High Court of Allahabad
Answer: B
Principle: A contract without lawful consideration is void.
Fact: Ramesh promises to give ₹1,000 to his friend Ravi without expecting anything in return.
- The agreement is valid as it involves money.
- The agreement is void for lack of lawful consideration.
- The agreement is valid because Ramesh is free to give a gift.
- The agreement can be enforced in court.
Answer: B
In pari delicto means:
- Where the petitioner is at fault
- Where both parties to a dispute are equally at fault
- Where the judge is at fault
- Where the lawyer is at fault
Answer: B
Lex loci means:
- Law of a place
- Italian laws
- Domestic laws
- Latin regulations
Answer: A
Which of the following is entrusted with a statutory duty of laying down the standards of professional conduct and etiquette for advocates in India?
- Supreme Court of India
- Bar Association of India
- Bar Council of India
- Delhi Bar Council
Answer: C
In law, the term ‘neighbour’ means-
- People who stay in your locality
- People who live adjacent to your residence
- People who might be affected by your actions
- The word has not been given any particular definition
Answer: C
Principle: No person shall be punished twice for the same offence.
Fact: Sita was convicted of theft and served her sentence. Later, the police charged her again for the same theft.
- Sita can be punished again since the police found new evidence.
- Sita cannot be punished twice for the same offence.
- Sita should appeal against the charges.
- The court can reopen the case.
Answer: B
Who is the Legal Advisor to the Government of a State in India?
- The Solicitor General
- The State Chief Legal Officer
- The High Court
- The Advocate General
Answer: D
Principle: Only Parliament or State Legislatures have the authority to enact laws on their own. No law made by the State can take away a person’s fundamental right.
Facts: Parliament enacted a law that, according to a group of lawyers, violates traders’ fundamental rights. A group of lawyers files a writ petition challenging the statute’s constitutional validity, seeking to quash it and further directing Parliament to enact a new law.
- No writ would lie against Parliament, as the court has no authority to direct Parliament to enact or re-enact a law.
- The court can quash an existing law if it violates fundamental rights and direct Parliament to enact a new law.
- The court can quash the existing law if it violates fundamental rights, but cannot direct Parliament to make a new law.
- None of these.
Answer: C
Principles:
A. A minor is a person who is below the age of eighteen. However, where a guardian administers the minor’s property, the age of majority is twenty-one.
B. A minor is not permitted by law to enter into a contract. Hence, where a minor enters into a contract with a major, the contract is unenforceable. This means that neither the minor nor the other party can make any claim under the contract.
C. In a contract with a minor, if the other party hands over any money or confers any other benefit on the minor, the same shall not be recoverable from the minor unless the other party was deceived by the minor to hand over money or any other benefit. The other party will have to show that the minor misrepresented her age, that he was ignorant of the minor’s age, and that he handed over the benefit on the basis of such representation.
Facts:
Animesh convinces Kumud, an 18-year-old girl, to sell her land to him. Kumud’s mother, Parineeti, is her guardian. Nonetheless, Kumud, without Parineeti’s permission, sells the land to Animesh for fifty lakh rupees, paid in full and final settlement of the price. Parineeti challenges this transaction, claiming that Kumud is a minor and, hence, the land shall not be given to Animesh. Thus, Animesh is in a difficult situation and has no idea how to recover his money from Kumud.
Why is Parineeti justified in challenging the sale transaction?
- Kumud is of unsound mind and is not in a position to make rational decisions.
- Though Kumud is 18 years old, she will be treated as a minor because Parineeti is her guardian.
- Though Kumud is eighteen years old, she cannot sell the land without her mother’s permission.
- Though Kumud is eighteen years old, she should not be treated as someone who has reached that age.
Answer: B
Animesh can be allowed to recover the money only if he can show that-
- He was deceived by Kumud, who misrepresented her age.
- He honestly believed that Kumud was empowered under the law to sell the land.
- He was an honest person who had paid the full price of the land to Kumud.
- Both (a) and (b).
Answer: A
In order to defend the sale, Kumud will need to show that-
- Kumud has attained the age of majority.
- Kumud is mature enough to make rational decisions regarding her own affairs.
- The sale transaction was beneficial to her interests and will enhance her financial status.
- None of the above.
Answer: A
A person who consents to a risk cannot claim damages for the injury arising from that risk.
Fact: John attended a cricket match where a ball hit him on the head, causing injury.
- John can claim damages from the organisers.
- John cannot claim damages as he consented to the risk by attending the match.
- The cricket players are liable to compensate John.
- The organisers must bear the medical expenses.
Answer: B
The concept of judicial review has been borrowed from the Constitution of-
U.S.S.R.
U.K.
U.S.A.
Switzerland
Answer: C
Principle: Mere silence as to the facts likely to affect the willingness of a person to enter into a contract is not a fraud, unless the circumstances of the case are such that, on close examination, it is found to be the duty of the person keeping silent to speak, or unless his silence is, in itself, equivalent to speech.
Facts: X sells by auction to Y, a horse which X knows to be of unsound state of mind. X says nothing to Y about the horse’s unsound state of mind. Give the correct answer.
- X can be held liable for fraud.
- X can be held liable for misrepresentation.
- X cannot be held liable, because he did not say anything positive about the mental state of the horse.
- X cannot be held liable because it is the buyer who must be aware of the things.
Answer: C
If the tax rate increases with the higher level of income, it is called –
- Progressive Tax
- Proportional Tax
- Lump sum Tax
- Regressive Tax
Answer: A
A fake doctor operated on a man for internal piles by cutting them out with a kitchen knife. The man died of haemorrhage.
- The doctor is guilty of murder.
- The doctor is not guilty.
- The doctor is guilty of culpable homicide not amounting to murder
- None of these.
Answer: C
Astha, a very good painter, is also a patient in a mental asylum who, at intervals, is of sound mind. During one of these intervals, she entered into a relationship with Lopamudra to paint a picture of her for a specified amount. She, however, asked Lopamudra to pay her the entire amount in advance. One month later, on the day of delivery of the painting, Astha refused to perform the contract, saying that she suffers from insanity. Can Lopamudra force performance?
Principle: A person is said to be of sound mind for the purpose of making a contract if, at the time when he makes it, he is capable of understanding it and of forming a rational judgment as to its effect upon his interests.
- Yes, because Astha was of sound mind when she entered into the contract.
- No, because Astha had been of unsound mind even when the contract was signed, as evidenced by her admission to an asylum.
- Yes, because a good painter can paint irrespective of his/her mental stability.
- No, because it was silly on Lopamudra’s part to enter into a contract with a mental patient admitted to an asylum.
Answer: A
Agni enters into a contract with Tanuj whereby Tanuj will supply Agni with 10 grams of cocaine for a specified amount. Is the contract void?
Principle: If the consideration or object of an agreement is forbidden by law, or is of such a nature that would defeat the provisions of any law, or is fraudulent, or is injurious to the person or property of another, or the Court regards it as immoral, or opposed to public policy, then the object or consideration shall be deemed unlawful. Every agreement of which the object or consideration is unlawful is void.
- Yes, because the contract is for the sale of illegal drugs.
- No, because Agni and Tanuj have entered into the contract of their own free will, and, as citizens of a free country, they have the right to do so.
- Yes, because drugs are harmful.
- None of these.
Answer: A
Which State provided a separate reservation for Muslims and Christians in the State Backwards Classes List in 2007?
- Andhra Pradesh
- Tamil Nadu
- Bihar
- Kerala
Answer: D
Dr Mortimer performed a kidney operation on James for the removal of kidney stones. James was already affected by HIV. Dr Mortimer had warned James of all the possible risks. James, out of his own volition, decided to undertake the risks and signed a bond certifying the same. James died of haemorrhage as a result of the operation.
- The doctor is guilty of murder.
- The doctor is not guilty.
- The doctor is guilty of culpable homicide not amounting to murder
- None of these.
Answer: B
Tanvi and Ashrita were residents of Jahnvi Devi Society. Ashrita has been practising Natarajyam before sunrise each morning for the past 25 years. She plays loud dance beats in her music system each morning to help her practice. The loud noise from her music system disturbs Tanvi, who is woken up each morning by it. After putting up with this for 25 years, Tanvi finally decides she can take no more and sues Ashrita for nuisance.
Principle: Whoever causes unreasonable interference to the right of another over his property and space is causing a nuisance.
- Ashrita is liable because her dance practice causes unreasonable interference with Tanvi’s sleep.
- Ashrita is liable because she could easily choose some other time of the day.
- Ashrita is not liable because she has been doing this for over 20 years and has now acquired a prescriptive right to continue with it unchallenged.
- Ashrita is not liable because it is her choice what she does inside her house.
Answer: C
When the consent of a party to a contract has been obtained by Undue Influence, Fraud or Misrepresentation, the contract is-
- Illegal
- Voidable
- Void
- Enforceable
Answer: B
In kidnapping, the consent of a minor is-
- Partly material
- Wholly material
- Party immaterial
- Wholly immaterial
Answer: D
Principles:
A. Whoever, intending to take any movable property out of the possession of any person without that person’s consent, moves that property out of his or her possession, is said to commit theft.
B. A person who, without lawful excuse, damages any property belonging to another, intending to damage any such property, shall be guilty of causing criminal damage.
C. Damage means any impairment of the value of a property.
Facts:
Draupadi, an 85-year-old woman, used to live with her granddaughter, Subhadra. Draupadi was ill and therefore bedridden for several months. During those months, she could not tolerate any noise, making it quite difficult to clean her room. After she died, Subhadra hired a cleaner, Vinodji, to clean the room and throw away any rubbish that may be there. There was a pile of old newspapers which Draupadi had stacked in a corner of her room. Vinodji asked Subhadra if he should clear away the pile of old newspapers, and she said yes. Vinodji took the pile to the municipality’s rubbish dump. While Vinodji was sorting and throwing away the newspapers, he was very surprised to find a beautiful painting between two sheets of paper. He thought that Subhadra probably wouldn’t want this old painting back, especially because it was torn in several places and the colour was fading. He took the painting home, mounted it on a wooden frame and hung it on the wall of his bedroom. Unknown to him, the painting was an old masterpiece and worth twenty thousand rupees. Before mounting the painting, Vinodji pasted it onto a plain sheet of paper so it would not tear further. By doing so, he made its professional restoration very difficult and thereby reduced its value by half. Vinodji’s neighbour Champi discovered that the painting belonged to Subhadra. With the motive of returning the painting to Subhadra, Champi climbed through an open window into Vinodji’s room when he was away one afternoon and removed the painting from his house.
11. Has Vinodji committed theft?
- Yes, Vinodji has committed theft of the newspapers and the painting.
- No, Vinodji has not committed theft because he had Draupadi’s consent.
- Yes, Vinodji has committed theft of the painting, but not of the newspapers
- No, Vinodji has not committed theft because he has not removed the painting from Draupadi’s possession.
Answer: B
12. Is Vinodji guilty of criminal damage?
- No, Vinodji is not guilty of criminal damage as he did not intentionally impair the value of the painting.
- Yes, Vinodji is guilty of criminal damage as he intentionally stuck the paper onto the painting
- No, Vinodji is not guilty of criminal damage, as he no longer has the painting in his possession.
- No, Vinodji is not guilty of criminal damage because he did not destroy the painting.
Answer: A
13. If Vinodji had discovered the painting before leaving Subhadra’s house rather than at the rubbish dump, would he have been guilty of theft in this case?
- Yes, he would be guilty of theft of the newspapers and the paintings.
- No, he would not be guilty of theft.
- Yes, he would be guilty of theft of the painting.
- None of the above.
Answer: C
14. Is Champi guilty of theft?
- No, Champi is now guilty of theft because the person from whom she took the painting (Vinodji) was not its lawful owner.
- No, Champi is not guilty of theft, since she took the painting solely to return it to Subhadra.
- Yes, Champi is guilty of theft because she took the painting from Vinodji’s possession without his consent.
- None of the above.
Answer: C
15. Which of the following propositions could be inferred from the facts and the rules specified
- Champi is guilty of criminal damage because the person from whom she took the painting (Vinodji) was not its lawful owner.
- Champi is guilty of criminal damage as she took the painting without Vinodji’s consent.
- Champi is not guilty of criminal damage as the painting has not been completely destroyed.
- None of the above.
Answer: B
Principle No Person shall be prosecuted for the same offence twice.
Facts: Rajiv Chanda was driving his BMW when he drove the car on the pathway and crushed three people to death. Due to a lack of evidence, he is acquitted, but the prosecution later finds an eyewitness and evidence against him. They want to prosecute him again.
- Rajiv Chanda cannot be prosecuted again.
- He can be prosecuted since there is fresh evidence against him.
- He cannot be prosecuted as his grandfather was the Chief of the Army.
- He can be prosecuted again, as he was not punished at all.
Answer: A
Public holidays are declared under-
- Criminal Procedure Code
- Civil Procedure Code
- Constitution of India
- Negotiable Instruments Act
Answer: D
Which of the following is correct?
- Animesh should be allowed to recover the money because even though there is no contract, Kumud and Parineeti should not be allowed to unjustly benefit from Animesh’s money.
- Animesh should be allowed to possess the land because Parineeti can always decide to approve the transaction between Animesh and Kumud.
- Animesh should not be allowed to recover because he induced Kumud, a minor, to sell the land.
- None of the above.
Answer: C
Which of the following is correct?
- If Animesh is allowed to recover the money, it will defeat the law framed to protect minors from fraudulent persons.
- If Animesh is not allowed to recover, it will be an injustice, as he has not paid the full sale price.
- If Animesh is allowed to recover, Parineeti will benefit from both the money and the land.
- None of the above.
Answer: A
Whoever induces or attempts to induce a candidate, or voter, to believe that he, or any person, who he is interested in, will become, or will be rendered, an object of divine displeasure, or spiritual censure, commits the offence of-
- Affray
- Illegal Gratification
- Bribery
- Undue Influence
Answer: D
Jalebi Bai conducted Nattiyam lessons in her flat, just above Chameli’s. Chameli suffered from migraine and the constant thud of people’s feet from the ceiling of her house gave her severe headaches. Chameli decided to sue Jalebi Bai for nuisance. Will she succeed?
Principle: Whoever causes unreasonable interference to the right of another over his property and space is causing a nuisance.
- Yes, because Jalebi Bai should take Chameli’s illness into account. They are neighbours, after all, and should be considerate to each other.
- Yes, because Chameli is getting disturbed and her health is deteriorating due to the dance lessons conducted by Jalebi Bai.
- No, because Jalebi Bai‘s interference is not unreasonable. It is just that Chameli is a sensitive plaintiff.
- No, because India is a free country, and Jalebi Bai can do whatever she chooses.
Answer: C
Principle: When one person signifies to another his willingness to do or abstain from doing anything, with a view to obtaining the assent of that person to such an act or abstinence, he is said to have made a proposal.
Fact: Ramchandra telegraphed to Shyam Sunder, writing: “Will you sell me your Rolls-Royce car? Telegram the lowest cash price.” Shyam Sunder also replied by telegram: “Lowest price for a car is Rs. 20 lakh.” Ramanuj immediately sent his consent through telegram stating: “I agree to buy the car for Rs. 20 lakh as asked by you.” Shyam Sunder refused to sell the car.
- He cannot refuse to sell the car because the contract has already been made.
- He can refuse to sell the car because it was only an invitation to offer, not a real offer.
- It was not a valid offer because there was no willingness to enter into a contract.
- None of these.
Answer: C
Principle: Any direct physical interference with goods in somebody’s possession without lawful justification is called trespass of goods.
Facts: Z purchased a car from a person who had no title to it and sent it to a garage for repair. X, mistakenly believing the car was his, removed it from the garage.
- X cannot be held responsible for trespass of goods as he was under a wrong belief.
- X can be held responsible for the trespass of goods.
- X has not committed any wrong.
- None of the above.
Answer: B
Prateek, who is Prakha’s younger brother, under the influence of madness, attempts to kill Sachan, who is Prakha’s boyfriend. Prakha, not knowing how to react and seeing Sachan helpless and on the verge of being murdered, hits Prateek’s head with an antique metal vase. Prateek dies on the spot. Can Prakha claim the right of private defence of the body?
Principle 1: Every person has a right to defend his own body, and the body of any other person, against any offence affecting the human body. Nothing is an offence which is done in the exercise of the right of private defence.
Principle 2: The right of private defence of the body extends to the voluntary causing of death or of any other harm to the assailant, if the offence reasonably causes the apprehension that death, or grievous hurt will otherwise be the consequence of such assault. Also, if the assault is with the intention of committing rape, gratifying unnatural lust, kidnapping or abducting, or wrongfully confining a person under circumstances which may reasonably cause him to apprehend that he will be unable to have recourse to the public authorities for his release, he will have the right of private defence of the body extending to causing death.
Principle 3: Nothing is an offence which is done by a person who, at the time of doing it, by reason of unsoundness of mind, is incapable of knowing the nature of the act.
- No, because Prateek is not guilty of any offence, as he was of unsound mind.
- Yes, because she was under the apprehension that Prateek would murder Sachan.
- No, because Sachan was being killed, and not Prakha herself. And since this is a “private” defence, not a “public” defence, only the victim can avail of it, and no one else.
- No, because a mentally-unsound person was punished despite the fact that he had no knowledge of what he was doing. One cannot simply kill innocent people and then claim private defence.
Answer: B
What is the meaning of the maxim “nemo judex in sua causa”?
- The judge needs a cause to condemn the accused.
- No person can be a judge in his own cause.
- The judiciary is appointed for a cause, and they shall serve the cause till their last breath.
- None of these
Answer: B
Which of the following had the most profound influence in framing the Indian Constitution?
- British Constitution
- US Constitution
- Irish Constitution
- The Government of India Act, 1935
Answer: D
Conclusion
Practising legal reasoning questions is key to improving accuracy and application skills for CLAT. Law Prep Tutorial (LPT) supports this with well-curated questions, expert guidance, and exam-focused resources. This structured approach helps aspirants strengthen concepts, build confidence, and perform better in the legal reasoning section. Download the free legal reasoning notes for CLAT by Law Prep Tutorial.
