The Judiciary

Read the two statements given below about the Supreme Court of India. Select the option that shows the correct relationship between (A) and (R).

Assertion (A): The number of Judges in the Supreme Court is fixed by Parliament from time to time.

Reason (R): The Chief Justice and other judges of the Supreme Court hold office till they complete sixty two years of age.

1. (R) contradicts (A)
2. (R) is the reason for (A)
3. (A) is true but (R) is false
4. (A) and (R) are independent of each other

Answer

(A) is true but (R) is false

Explanation — The Chief Justice and other judges of the Supreme Court hold office till they complete sixty-five years of age.

Identify the functions of the Supreme Court.

P: Original Jurisdiction

Q: Appellate Jurisdiction

R: New Jurisdiction

S: Old Jurisdiction

1. P and Q
2. R and S
3. P and R
4. Q and S

Answer

P and Q

Joyce is preparing a project on the cases associated with thefts, robberies, killing, physical injury, rioting etc. Which of the following types of cases would MOST LIKELY be part of her project?

1. Civil cases
2. Criminal cases
3. Bankruptcy cases
4. Family cases

Answer

Criminal cases

Which of the following High Courts is being depicted by the given picture?

1. Mumbai High Court
2. Delhi High Court
3. Calcutta High Court
4. Allahabad High Court

Answer

Calcutta High Court

Consider the statements given below and choose the correct answer.

Statement I: The Supreme Court supervises the functions of all the subordinate courts in the state.

Statement II: The Lok Adalats have proved very effective in providing speedy justice to people.

1. Statement (I) is correct and statement (II) is incorrect.
2. Statement (I) is incorrect and statement (II) is correct.
3. Both statements (I) and (II) are incorrect.
4. Both statements (I) and (II) are correct.

Answer

Statement (I) is incorrect and statement (II) is correct.

The first Lok Adalat was organised at ............... .

1. Nasik
2. Junagarh
3. Allahabad
4. Bhopal

Answer

Junagarh

Original jurisdiction means the authority to hear cases for the ............... .

1. fourth time
2. third time
3. second time
4. first time

Answer

first time

The courts at the district level and below it are known as the ............... Courts.

1. District court
2. Judiciary
3. Subordinate
4. None of these

Answer

Subordinate

Laws are made by ............... .

1. Legislature
2. Council of Ministers
3. Judiciary
4. Executive

Answer

Legislature

The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court is appointed by the ............... .

1. Prime Minister
2. President
3. Home Minister
4. Law Minister

Answer

President

Fill in the blanks.

1. The ............... is the highest court of appeal in India.

2. The Supreme Court of India consists of a ............... other judges.

3. The judges of the High Court retire at the age of ............... .

4. The courts at the district level and below it are known as the ............... .

Answer

1. Supreme Court

2. Chief Justice and 33

3. 62 years

4. Subordinate Courts

Match Column A with Column B.

Answer

State whether the following statements are True or False.

1. The judges of the Supreme Court retire at the age of 60 years.

2. The President of India is free to remove the judges of the Supreme Court.

3. The Chief Justice of the High Court is appointed by the President of India.

4. The highest criminal court in the district is the Munsif Court.

Answer

1. False
   Correct Statement — The judges of the Supreme Court retire at the age of 65 years.

2. False
   Correct Statement — The President of India cannot freely remove the judges of the Supreme Court.

3. True

4. False
   Correct Statement — The highest criminal court in the district is the Sessions Court.

Why is the Judiciary important?

Answer

The Judiciary is important because it interprets the laws, explains their meaning, and gives punishment to lawbreakers. It ensures that laws made by the legislature and carried out by the executive are properly understood and fairly applied.

What is the composition of the Supreme Court?

Answer

The Supreme Court consists of the Chief Justice and 33 other judges. The number of judges in the Supreme Court is fixed by Parliament from time to time.

Who appoints the judges of the Supreme Court?

Answer

The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court is appointed by the President of India. Other judges are also appointed by the President in consultation with the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

Describe the powers and functions of the High Courts of India. What type of cases come before the High Courts in India?

Answer

Like the Supreme Court of India, a High Court has to perform many functions and duties of judicial and non-judicial nature.

1. Original Jurisdiction : The original field of the judicial functions of the High Court is very limited. Cases relating to Fundamental Rights, marriage and divorce, wills and laws can be brought directly to a High Court.
2. Appellate Jurisdiction : Appeals in civil and criminal cases are made to the High Court against the decision of the subordinate courts.
3. The High Court supervises the functions of all the subordinate courts in the state. It can also transfer a case from a subordinate court to itself or to another subordinate court if a necessity arises. It can also examine their records.
4. It also has the power to issue various writs for the protection of individuals and safeguarding their rights.

What are the functions of a District Judge?

Answer

A District Judge works in the District Courts, which are part of the lower level of the judicial pyramid. They handle civil cases at the district level, which involves interpreting laws and giving punishment to lawbreakers.

Distinguish between civil and criminal cases.

Answer

The cases brought before the courts can be categorised into two types — Criminal cases and Civil cases.

1. Criminal Cases : These cases concern thefts, robberies, killing, physical injury, rioting, etc.
2. Civil Cases : These pertain to family matters like property disputes, marriage disputes, contracts, damage to goods, etc.

Assertion (A): In India, the judiciary is independent of the executive.

Reason (R): Judiciary favours the government and helps in the implementation of its plans.

1. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are correct and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
2. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are correct but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
3. Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
4. Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.

Answer

Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.

Explanation — The judiciary does not favour the government or implement its plans, its role is to interpret laws and deliver justice impartially, not to serve the executive.

Assertion (A): The rule making power of the Supreme Court is not subject to any law made by the Parliament of India.

Reason (R): Only an impartial and independent judiciary can protect the rights of individual without fear or favour.

1. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are correct and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
2. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are correct but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
3. Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
4. Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.

Answer

Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.

Explanation

Under Article 145 of the Constitution of India, the Supreme Court has the power to make rules for regulating its practice and procedure, but this power is expressly “subject to any law made by Parliament.”
So the statement “The rule making power of the Supreme Court is not subject to any law made by the Parliament of India” is incorrect.
The Reason, “Only an impartial and independent judiciary can protect the rights of individual without fear or favour,” is a correct and widely accepted constitutional principle about the role of the judiciary in a democracy.

Hence, Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.