In Indian constitutional law, what is the literal meaning of the Latin writ term Quo Warranto, which may be issued by a court?

Introduction / Context:
This question relates to constitutional law and administrative law, focusing on the Latin terminology used for various writs that Indian courts can issue. Understanding the literal meanings of writs such as Habeas Corpus, Mandamus, Prohibition, Certiorari and Quo Warranto helps students connect each writ to its function. Quo Warranto is used to question the legal authority of a person holding a public office, so grasping its literal translation is essential for exam questions about the writ jurisdiction of higher courts.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The writ term is Quo Warranto.
• We are asked for its literal meaning in English.
• Options include We command, To forbid, By what authority or warrant, and None of these.
• We assume standard textbook translations of Latin legal terms.

Concept / Approach:
Quo Warranto is a writ used to ask under what legal authority a person holds a public office. The literal translation is By what authority or warrant. Other Latin writs have different meanings: Mandamus means We command, Prohibition means To forbid and Certiorari is associated with To be certified or To be informed. The approach is to recall this mapping between Latin phrases and their English equivalents and select the correct one for Quo Warranto.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the writ in question: Quo Warranto. Step 2: Recall that this writ is used by courts to challenge the authority of a person holding a public office, questioning the legality of that appointment. Step 3: Remember the standard translation which expresses the idea of asking by what authority a person occupies that position. Step 4: Compare options. We command is associated with the writ of Mandamus, not Quo Warranto. Step 5: To forbid is associated with the writ of Prohibition. Step 6: By what authority or warrant exactly matches the sense of questioning legal authority, which belongs to Quo Warranto. Step 7: Hence, select By what authority or warrant as the correct option.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, it helps to review the standard list of writs and their literal meanings. Habeas Corpus translates to You may have the body, Mandamus to We command, Prohibition to To forbid, Certiorari to To be certified or informed, and Quo Warranto to By what authority or warrant. When these translations are memorised together, it becomes easier to differentiate them. Because Quo Warranto deals specifically with questioning the legitimacy of a public office holder, the phrase By what authority matches both the literal translation and the practical function, confirming the answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
We command: This is the translation of Mandamus, which orders a public authority to perform a duty, not the writ that questions authority to hold office.
To forbid: This is the translation of Prohibition, a writ that stops a lower court or tribunal from exceeding its jurisdiction.
None of these: This is incorrect because one of the options, By what authority or warrant, correctly translates Quo Warranto.

Common Pitfalls:
Many aspirants confuse Latin terms because they sound similar and are learned together. A common mistake is to mix up Mandamus and Quo Warranto because both relate to public authorities. Another pitfall is to rely only on functional understanding without memorising literal meanings, which leads to errors in questions that specifically ask for translation. A reliable approach is to revise a small table of writ names, literal meanings and basic purposes regularly so that each term triggers an accurate semantic association in the mind during exams.

Final Answer:
The literal meaning of Quo Warranto is By what authority (or) warrant.