Correct answer: (b) 1 and 3
Explanation
- A
1 and 2
Option (a) claims that statements 1 and 2 are correct. While statement 1 is accurate, statement 2 is incorrect because Fathima Beevi served as the Governor of Kerala from 1997 to 2002, not 2001. Therefore, this combination cannot be accepted as the right answer.
- B
1 and 3
Option (b) asserts that statements 1 and 3 are correct. Statement 1 correctly identifies her as the first woman judge of the Supreme Court of India, appointed in 1989. Statement 3 is also correct as she was indeed the first Muslim woman to enter the higher judiciary in the country. Consequently, this option stands as the valid choice among all the given alternatives.
- C
Only 1
Option (c) states that only statement 1 is correct. This is inadequate because statement 3 is equally true regarding her historic appointment as the first Muslim woman in the higher judiciary. Hence, ignoring the third statement makes this option incomplete and incorrect.
- D
1, 2 and 3
Option (d) includes statements 1, 2, and 3 together as correct. This option is rendered incorrect due to the factual inaccuracy in the tenure end year mentioned in the second statement. Since she held office until 2002, all three statements cannot be marked true.
Summary. Official key is (b) because statements 1 and 3 correctly describe the milestones in Justice M. Fathima Beevi's career. She made history as the first woman judge of the Supreme Court of India and the first Muslim woman in the higher judiciary. Statement 2 is factually flawed regarding the exact end year of her gubernatorial tenure in Kerala. Thus, option (b) is the accurate combination representing her achievements.