A Writ of Prohibition is an order issued by the Supreme Court or High Courts to:

Answer: (c) the lower court prohibiting continuation of proceedings in a case.

A higher court tells a lower court or tribunal to stop proceedings that exceed its jurisdiction.

The idea

Prohibition and certiorari are both against judicial and quasi-judicial bodies. Prohibition is preventive (while the case is pending); certiorari is curative (it quashes an order already made). Neither lies against a legislature or a private person.

Lower court exceeds jurisdiction → case pending → Prohibition → order passed → Certiorari

Why the others are wrong

(a) Prohibition does not lie against an executive officer. To stop an officer you would seek mandamus (to act) or other relief.

(b) A play on the word “prohibition” (liquor ban). Courts cannot direct a legislature to make a law.

(d) Striking down an unconstitutional policy is ordinary judicial review, not the writ of prohibition.

The trap

Option (b) plays on the everyday meaning of “prohibition”. Option (a) is mandamus territory.