Judicial System-9th Standard Social Science Notes

CHAPTER – 4

Judicial System

I. Fill in the blanks with suitable words.
1. The Supreme Court of India came into existence in __________.
2. The retirement age of the High Court judge is ______
3. The Judges are appointed by __________.
4. The head of Revenue Tax Board is ________
5. The Lokadalats came into existence in the year _________
Ans:- (1) January 28, 1950 (2) 62 years (3) The President (4) The Revenue Secretary (5) 1985
II. Answer the following questions with group discussion.
1. Explain the functions of Supreme Court. Functions and powers of Supreme Court-
 Original Powers : Resolving the disputes between the Union and the States, and between the States; Safeguarding the Fundamental Rights of citizens; Interpreting the provisions of the Constitution and passing on writs.
 Appellate Powers : Citizens may file cases in the Supreme Court against the judgements given in the lower courts.
 Advisory Powers : The Supreme Court may advise the President when he seeks its opinion on important public issues. The President may consult the Supreme Court for advice.
 The Supreme Court serves as a Court of Records, Chief Advisor to the Centre and States, and has the power to issue special writs.
2. Write a note on functions of High courts. Functions of the High Courts are-
1. The original power to resolve civil and criminal cases; Naval, Marital and contempt of court cases.
2. To admit appeals against the judgements passed by the subordinate courts in civil and criminal cases.
3. To direct transfer of cases from the lower courts to the High Court; to supervise the working of the subordinate courts; to admit writ petitions to safeguard the Fundamental Rights and other legal rights of citizens; to appoint the staff and regulating them.
3. Name the subordinates courts under the civil courts.
Subordinate courts under the District Courts are -
1. Court of Subordinate Judges
2. Court of Additional Subordinate Judges
3. Court of Munciffs
4. Court of Additional Munciffs
4. Write a note on Criminal courts.
Criminal courts came into existence on 1 April, 1974. They are also known as District Magistrate courts. They function under the High Court. The highest criminal court at the district level is the Sessions court. The District Judge performs the function of a judge of this court too. The court takes up crimes like murder, robbery, dacoits etc. It has the powers to issue death sentences and also life imprisonment sentences.
There are other criminal courts functioning under criminal court:
 Chief Magistrate Court: This court can impose seven years punishment.
 First Grade Magistrate Court: This court has greater powers and can impose punishment upto 3 years or fine upto Rs.5000/-, or impose both. Moreover, it can admit appeals against judgments from lower Magisterial courts.
 Second Grade Magistrate Court: This court has the power to impose punishment upto 2 years or a fine of Rs.1000/- or both.
 Third Grade Magistrate Court:
5. Write a note on Revenue courts.
Revenue courts take up cases related to land tax, land records etc. Revenue Courts comprise the
following courts:
 Tahasildar Court/ Taluk Magistrate Court : The Tahasildar Court is the lowest court
 District Subdivisional Officer’s Court: This court takes up appeals against the decisions and judgments of Tahsildar courts.
 District Revenue Court or District Magistrate Court: This court takes up appeals against the judgments given by the Tahsildar court or the District Subdivisional Officer’s court. The Deputy Commissioner is its judge.
 Commissioner’s Court: This court takes up appeals against the judgments of the district magistrate courts. The Divisional Officer is its judge.
 Revenue Board: This is the highest court dealing with Revenue cases.
6. What are reasons behind the establishment of Lok Adalat court?
In India, the legal procedure is time-consuming and expensive. So government want this Lok Adalat court as an alternative, the Government has set up other forms of legal institutions which function faster and are less expensive.