All questions of Subordinate Courts for BPSC (Bihar) Exam

The pecuniary jurisdiction of the Permanent Lok Adalat shall be up to rupees ten lakhs. However, the Central Government may increase the said pecuniary jurisdiction from time to time.

The correct answer is option 'C' - Both 1 and 2.

Explanation:
- The first statement is correct. The award by the Lok Adalat is binding on the parties involved in the dispute. It has the same status as a decree of a civil court. This means that the parties are legally obligated to comply with the decision of the Lok Adalat. If any party fails to comply with the award, the other party can enforce it through the civil court.
- The second statement is also correct. The award given by the Lok Adalat is non-appealable. This means that the parties cannot challenge the decision of the Lok Adalat in a higher court. Once the award is given, it becomes final and cannot be appealed.

Lok Adalat is a system of alternative dispute resolution in India. It aims to provide a speedy and cost-effective resolution to disputes, especially in cases of pending court cases. Lok Adalats are organized at various levels, including the National Level, State Level, District Level, and Taluk Level.

The Lok Adalat comprises of a panel of members, including a judicial officer, social workers, and legal professionals. The Lok Adalat follows a conciliatory approach to resolve disputes. The parties involved in the dispute are encouraged to negotiate and reach a mutually acceptable settlement. If a settlement is reached, it is recorded as an award by the Lok Adalat.

The award by the Lok Adalat has certain legal characteristics. It is considered to be a decree of a civil court and is binding on the parties. It has the same enforceability as a decree of a civil court. The award can be executed through the civil court if required.

One of the key features of the Lok Adalat is its non-appealable nature. Once the award is given, the parties cannot challenge it in a higher court. This ensures the finality and speedy resolution of disputes. However, it is important to note that if the parties are not satisfied with the outcome of the Lok Adalat, they still have the option to approach the regular court for resolution.

In conclusion, the award by the Lok Adalat is binding on the parties and has the status of a decree of a civil court. It is non-appealable, meaning the parties cannot challenge the decision in a higher court.

Below the District and Sessions Court stands the Court of Subordinate Judge on the civil side and the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate on the criminal side. The subordinate judge exercises unlimited pecuniary jurisdiction over civil suits'. The chief judicial magistrate decides criminal cases which are punishable with imprisonment for a term up to seven years.

At the lowest level, on the civil side, is the Court of Munsiff and on the criminal side, is the Court of Judicial Magistrate. The munsiff possess limited jurisdiction and decides civil cases of small pecuniary stake". The judicial magistrate tries criminal cases which are punishable with imprisonment for a term up to three years.

1. The District Judge is the highest judicial authority in the district:
- The statement is correct. The District Judge is indeed the highest judicial authority in the district. The District Judge is responsible for overseeing the administration of justice within a district and has supervisory and administrative control over the other subordinate courts in the district.

2. He possesses original and appellate jurisdiction only in civil matters:
- The statement is incorrect. The District Judge possesses both original and appellate jurisdiction in both civil and criminal matters. The original jurisdiction refers to the power to hear a case for the first time, while appellate jurisdiction refers to the power to review decisions made by lower courts.

Explanation:
The District Judge is a senior judicial officer who holds a high position in the judiciary at the district level. Let's break down the two statements given in the question and examine them individually.

1. The District Judge is the highest judicial authority in the district:
- The District Judge is indeed the highest judicial authority in the district. The district is the basic territorial unit for the administration of justice, and the District Judge is responsible for ensuring the proper administration of justice within the district. The District Judge has the power to exercise supervisory and administrative control over the other subordinate courts in the district, such as the Additional District Judges, Civil Judges, and Judicial Magistrates.

2. He possesses original and appellate jurisdiction only in civil matters:
- This statement is incorrect. The District Judge possesses both original and appellate jurisdiction in both civil and criminal matters. Original jurisdiction refers to the power to hear a case for the first time, while appellate jurisdiction refers to the power to review decisions made by lower courts. The District Judge has the authority to hear original cases in civil as well as criminal matters, and also has the power to hear appeals against the decisions made by the lower courts in the district. The District Judge is considered as the highest judicial authority in the district due to this wide jurisdiction.

In conclusion, the correct statement is:
a) 1 Only - The District Judge is the highest judicial authority in the district.

< b="" />Explanation:< />
The question is asking us to identify the correct statement(s) regarding the power of superintendence over subordinate courts. Let's analyze each statement:

< b="" />Statement 1:< /> The constitution does not place any restriction on this power of superintendence over the subordinate courts.
This statement is correct. The power of superintendence over subordinate courts is vested in the High Courts under Article 227 of the Indian Constitution. The Constitution does not place any specific restrictions on this power, allowing the High Courts to exercise it within the bounds of justice and fairness.

< b="" />Statement 2:< /> It is not only through an appeal by the person, but it can also be suo motu.
This statement is correct. The power of superintendence can be exercised not only through appeals filed by individuals but also suo motu, which means on the court's own motion. This enables the High Courts to take cognizance of any matter that requires their attention and intervene in the interest of justice.

< b="" />Statement 3:< /> It is of the nature of revision as it verifies the earlier judgments.
This statement is correct. The power of superintendence includes the power of revision, which allows the High Courts to review and correct any errors or irregularities in the judgments of subordinate courts. By exercising this power, the High Courts can ensure that the subordinate courts have followed the correct legal procedures and have delivered justice in accordance with the law.

Therefore, all three statements are correct, and the correct answer is option 'D' - All of them.

The first Lok Adalat camp in the post-independence era was organized in Gujarat in 1982. This initiative proved very successful in settlement of disputes. Consequently, the institution of Lok Adalat started spreading to other parts of the country.