One-word substitution (legal Latin): Determine the meaning of a ‘‘mala fide’’ case in legal/administrative usage and pick the correct paraphrase. Context: ‘‘Mala fide’’ contrasts with ‘‘bona fide’’ (good faith) in describing intent or honesty. Instruction: Choose the option that most accurately captures the phrase.

Given data

• Term: mala fide (Latin).
• We must choose its correct paraphrase among the options.

Concept / ApproachMala fide = ‘‘in bad faith’’ (dishonestly, with improper motive). Its opposite is bona fide = ‘‘in good faith’’ (honestly, legitimately).

EliminationGood faith — opposite of the target; incorrect. ❌Bad faith — correct sense of mala fide. ✅After a long delay — concerns timing, not intent. ❌Not undertaken at all — unrelated. ❌

Examples‘‘The transfer order was quashed as mala fide.’’ → It was issued with an improper motive.

Common pitfalls

• Confusing spelling variants ‘‘malafide’’ with the standard two-word ‘‘mala fide’’; the meaning remains the same.

Final AnswerWhich is undertaken in a bad faith