According to the CBSE Syllabus 2023-24, this chapter has been renumbered as Chapter 4.
Laws apply equally to all people. A certain set of fixed procedures need to be followed when a law is violated. To enforce this rule of law, we have a judicial system that consists of the mechanism of courts that a citizen can approach when a law is violated. As an organ of government, the judiciary plays a crucial role in the functioning of India’s democracy. It can play this role only because it is independent.
CBSE Notes Class 8 Civics Chapter 5 – Judiciary helps you in finding the answers related to judiciary, such as what does an “independent judiciary” mean? Is there any connection between the court and the Supreme Court? So, go through CBSE Notes and explore this topic in depth.
CBSE Notes Class 8 Civics Chapter 5 – Judiciary
What is the Role of the Judiciary?
Work of the judiciary can be divided into the following:
Dispute Resolution: The judicial system provides a mechanism for resolving disputes between citizens, between citizens and the government, between two state governments and between the centre and state governments.
Judicial Review: Judiciary has the power to strike down particular laws passed by the Parliament, if it believes that these are a violation of the basic structure of the Constitution. This is called judicial review.
Upholding the Law and Enforcing Fundamental Rights: Every citizen of India can approach the Supreme Court or the High Court if they believe that their Fundamental Rights have been violated.
What is an Independent Judiciary?
The Independence of Judiciary means:
- Other branches of government – the legislature and the executive – cannot interfere in the work of the judiciary. The courts are not under the government and do not act on their behalf.
- Independence of the judiciary allows the courts to play a central role in ensuring that there is no misuse of power by the legislature and the executive.
- Independence of the judiciary also plays a crucial role in protecting the Fundamental Rights of citizens.
For more information on Indian Judiciary and the Court System, watch the below video
What is the Structure of Courts in India?
There are three different levels of courts in India.
- District Court: The courts that most people interact with are called subordinate or district courts or Tehsil level court.
- High Court: Each state has a High Court, which is the highest court of that state.
- Supreme Court is at the top-level. The decisions made by the Supreme Court are binding on all other courts in India. It is located in New Delhi.
To know The Roles Of The Governor And The Chief Minister, Watch The Below Video:
In India, we have an integrated judicial system, which means that the decisions made by higher courts are binding on the lower courts. The appellate system exists in India, which means that a person can appeal to a higher court if they believe that the judgment passed by the lower court is not just.
For more information on Indian Judicial System and District Courts, watch the below video
What are the Different Branches of the Legal System?
Go through the following table to understand the significant differences between criminal and civil law.
| Criminal Law | Civil Law |
| Deals with conduct or acts that the law defines as offences. Eg, Theft, harassing a woman, dowry, murder. | Deals with any harm or injury to the rights of individuals. E.g, Disputes relating to the sale of land, purchase of goods, rent matters, and divorce cases. |
| It usually begins with the lodging of a First Information Report (FIR) with the police who investigate the crime, after which a case is filed in court. | A petition has to be filed before the relevant court by the affected party only. |
| If found guilty, the accused can be sent to jail and also fined. | The court gives the specific relief asked for. |
Does Everyone Have Access to the Courts?
All citizens of India can access the courts in this country. This means that every citizen has a right to justice through the courts. The courts are available for all, but in reality, access to courts has always been difficult for a vast majority of the poor in India. Legal procedures involve a lot of money and paperwork as well as take up a great deal of time. In response to this, the Supreme Court in the early 1980s devised a mechanism of Public Interest Litigation or PIL to increase access to justice. It allowed any individual or organisation to file a PIL in the High Court or the Supreme Court on behalf of those whose rights were being violated.
The phrase ‘justice delayed is justice denied’ is often used to characterise the extended time period that courts take. However, in spite of this, there is no denying that the judiciary has played a crucial role in democratic India, serving as a check on the powers of the executive and the legislature as well as in protecting the Fundamental Rights of citizens.
For more information on Indian Judiciary, watch the below video:
Frequently Asked Questions on CBSE Class 8 Geography Notes Chapter 5 Judiciary
What is the Appellate system?
The appellate system is a feature of the Indian judicial system where a person can appeal to a higher court if they find the decision made by a lower court unjust.
What is Civil law?
Civil law is the part of a country’s set of laws which is concerned with the private affairs of citizens, for example marriage and property ownership, rather than with crime.
What are the functions of the District Court?
1. Exercises jurisdiction 2. Deals with civil and criminal cases 3. Uphold limitations on the government
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