Selina Textbook Solutions: The Judiciary | Civics Class 8 ICSE PDF Download

 Page 1


The Judiciary 
I. Fill in the blanks: 
1. The Supreme Court is the highest court of appeal in India. 
2. The Supreme Court of India consists of a Chief Justice and 30 other judges. 
3. The judges of the High Court retire at the age of 62 years. 
4. The courts at the district level and below it are known as the subordinate courts. 
5. The Chief Justice of India is J.S. Khehar. 
II. Match the contents of Column A with those of Column B: 
 
Answer: 
 
III. Tick mark (?) the correct statements and cross mark (X) the wrong ones: 
1. The judges of the Supreme Court retire at the age of 60.  X 
2. The President of India is free to remove the judges of the Supreme Court. X 
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. X 
Page 2


The Judiciary 
I. Fill in the blanks: 
1. The Supreme Court is the highest court of appeal in India. 
2. The Supreme Court of India consists of a Chief Justice and 30 other judges. 
3. The judges of the High Court retire at the age of 62 years. 
4. The courts at the district level and below it are known as the subordinate courts. 
5. The Chief Justice of India is J.S. Khehar. 
II. Match the contents of Column A with those of Column B: 
 
Answer: 
 
III. Tick mark (?) the correct statements and cross mark (X) the wrong ones: 
1. The judges of the Supreme Court retire at the age of 60.  X 
2. The President of India is free to remove the judges of the Supreme Court. X 
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. X 
IV. Answer the following questions: 
Question 1. 
Why is the Judiciary important? 
Answer: 
Judiciary is important because criminals and law breakers need to be punished. It is 
important to explain the meaning of laws, to interpret them and to apply them when and 
where needed. Legal disputes need to be settled. Without judiciary legal disputes 
cannot be settled. 
Question 2. 
What is the composition of the Supreme Court? 
Answer: 
The Supreme Court Consists of the Chief Justice and not more than thirty other judges. 
The number of judges in the Supreme Court is fixed by parliament from time to time. 
Question 3. 
Who appoints the judges? What are the qualifications of a Supreme Court judge? 
Answer: 
The Chief justice and the other judges are appointed by the President of India. In order 
to be judge of the Supreme Court, a person must meet the following requirements: 
1. He must be a citizen of India. 
2. He should either be a distinguished jurist. 
OR 
3. He should have been a high court judge for at least five years. 
OR 
4. He should have been an advocate of a High Court for at least ten years. 
Question 4. 
Describe the powers and functions of the High Court of India. What type of cases come 
before the High Courts in India? 
Answer: 
A High Court of India has to perform many functions and duties of judicial and non-
judicial nature. 
1. Original Jurisdictions : Cases relating to Fundamental Rights, divorce, wills and 
laws relating to marriage 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. 
The High Court supervises the functions of all subordinate courts in the state. It can also 
transfer a case from a subordinate court to itself or to another subordinate court if 
necessary. It can also examine their records. 
Page 3


The Judiciary 
I. Fill in the blanks: 
1. The Supreme Court is the highest court of appeal in India. 
2. The Supreme Court of India consists of a Chief Justice and 30 other judges. 
3. The judges of the High Court retire at the age of 62 years. 
4. The courts at the district level and below it are known as the subordinate courts. 
5. The Chief Justice of India is J.S. Khehar. 
II. Match the contents of Column A with those of Column B: 
 
Answer: 
 
III. Tick mark (?) the correct statements and cross mark (X) the wrong ones: 
1. The judges of the Supreme Court retire at the age of 60.  X 
2. The President of India is free to remove the judges of the Supreme Court. X 
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. X 
IV. Answer the following questions: 
Question 1. 
Why is the Judiciary important? 
Answer: 
Judiciary is important because criminals and law breakers need to be punished. It is 
important to explain the meaning of laws, to interpret them and to apply them when and 
where needed. Legal disputes need to be settled. Without judiciary legal disputes 
cannot be settled. 
Question 2. 
What is the composition of the Supreme Court? 
Answer: 
The Supreme Court Consists of the Chief Justice and not more than thirty other judges. 
The number of judges in the Supreme Court is fixed by parliament from time to time. 
Question 3. 
Who appoints the judges? What are the qualifications of a Supreme Court judge? 
Answer: 
The Chief justice and the other judges are appointed by the President of India. In order 
to be judge of the Supreme Court, a person must meet the following requirements: 
1. He must be a citizen of India. 
2. He should either be a distinguished jurist. 
OR 
3. He should have been a high court judge for at least five years. 
OR 
4. He should have been an advocate of a High Court for at least ten years. 
Question 4. 
Describe the powers and functions of the High Court of India. What type of cases come 
before the High Courts in India? 
Answer: 
A High Court of India has to perform many functions and duties of judicial and non-
judicial nature. 
1. Original Jurisdictions : Cases relating to Fundamental Rights, divorce, wills and 
laws relating to marriage 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. 
The High Court supervises the functions of all subordinate courts in the state. It can also 
transfer a case from a subordinate court to itself or to another subordinate court if 
necessary. It can also examine their records. 
Question 5. 
What are the functions of a district judge? 
Answer: 
The courts at district level and below it are known as the subordinate courts. The 
administration of justice is conducted by two types of courts civil courts and criminal 
courts. 
The civil courts are the one which decide cases pertaining to money, contracts, 
marriage, etc. A District Judge is the head of judiciary in a district. His decisions are 
final. When the District Judge deals with criminal cases, he is known as the Sessions 
Judge. 
Question 6. 
Distinguish between civil and criminal cases. 
Answer: 
Civil cases are those which concern property disputes, contracts, marriage, divorce, etc. 
Criminal case are those where a crime has been committed e.g., murder, theft, etc. 
Question 7. 
Explain various types of writs. When are they issued? 
Answer: 
Supreme Court and High Courts protect Fundamental Rights from being eroded. 
They issue the following writs to the offending party: 
1. Habeous Corpus: It can get the body of any person released if it has been 
illegally captured. 
2. Prohibition: This is an order from a superior court to an inferior court to stop 
proceedings in a case which might be contemplating to do in excess of its 
jurisdiction. 
3. Certiorari: The writ is issued by a superior court to a judicial or quasi-judicial 
authorities in order to quash its order or decision. The difference between 
Prohibition and Certiorari is that while the former is issued when certain 
proceedings are still going on, the latter is issued only when the order has already 
been passed. 
4. Mandamus: It literally means ‘we command’. This writ is thus a sort of command 
from a superior court to a subordinate court or an administrative authority in case 
they refuse to exercise their jurisdiction and fail to perform their duty. 
5. Quo Warranto: Such a type of writ is issued by a court to a public servant to 
enquire into the legality of his holding a public office and to oust him if his claim is 
not well-founded. Then this writ prevents an unlawful claimant from holding a 
superior public office. 
 
 
Page 4


The Judiciary 
I. Fill in the blanks: 
1. The Supreme Court is the highest court of appeal in India. 
2. The Supreme Court of India consists of a Chief Justice and 30 other judges. 
3. The judges of the High Court retire at the age of 62 years. 
4. The courts at the district level and below it are known as the subordinate courts. 
5. The Chief Justice of India is J.S. Khehar. 
II. Match the contents of Column A with those of Column B: 
 
Answer: 
 
III. Tick mark (?) the correct statements and cross mark (X) the wrong ones: 
1. The judges of the Supreme Court retire at the age of 60.  X 
2. The President of India is free to remove the judges of the Supreme Court. X 
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. X 
IV. Answer the following questions: 
Question 1. 
Why is the Judiciary important? 
Answer: 
Judiciary is important because criminals and law breakers need to be punished. It is 
important to explain the meaning of laws, to interpret them and to apply them when and 
where needed. Legal disputes need to be settled. Without judiciary legal disputes 
cannot be settled. 
Question 2. 
What is the composition of the Supreme Court? 
Answer: 
The Supreme Court Consists of the Chief Justice and not more than thirty other judges. 
The number of judges in the Supreme Court is fixed by parliament from time to time. 
Question 3. 
Who appoints the judges? What are the qualifications of a Supreme Court judge? 
Answer: 
The Chief justice and the other judges are appointed by the President of India. In order 
to be judge of the Supreme Court, a person must meet the following requirements: 
1. He must be a citizen of India. 
2. He should either be a distinguished jurist. 
OR 
3. He should have been a high court judge for at least five years. 
OR 
4. He should have been an advocate of a High Court for at least ten years. 
Question 4. 
Describe the powers and functions of the High Court of India. What type of cases come 
before the High Courts in India? 
Answer: 
A High Court of India has to perform many functions and duties of judicial and non-
judicial nature. 
1. Original Jurisdictions : Cases relating to Fundamental Rights, divorce, wills and 
laws relating to marriage 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. 
The High Court supervises the functions of all subordinate courts in the state. It can also 
transfer a case from a subordinate court to itself or to another subordinate court if 
necessary. It can also examine their records. 
Question 5. 
What are the functions of a district judge? 
Answer: 
The courts at district level and below it are known as the subordinate courts. The 
administration of justice is conducted by two types of courts civil courts and criminal 
courts. 
The civil courts are the one which decide cases pertaining to money, contracts, 
marriage, etc. A District Judge is the head of judiciary in a district. His decisions are 
final. When the District Judge deals with criminal cases, he is known as the Sessions 
Judge. 
Question 6. 
Distinguish between civil and criminal cases. 
Answer: 
Civil cases are those which concern property disputes, contracts, marriage, divorce, etc. 
Criminal case are those where a crime has been committed e.g., murder, theft, etc. 
Question 7. 
Explain various types of writs. When are they issued? 
Answer: 
Supreme Court and High Courts protect Fundamental Rights from being eroded. 
They issue the following writs to the offending party: 
1. Habeous Corpus: It can get the body of any person released if it has been 
illegally captured. 
2. Prohibition: This is an order from a superior court to an inferior court to stop 
proceedings in a case which might be contemplating to do in excess of its 
jurisdiction. 
3. Certiorari: The writ is issued by a superior court to a judicial or quasi-judicial 
authorities in order to quash its order or decision. The difference between 
Prohibition and Certiorari is that while the former is issued when certain 
proceedings are still going on, the latter is issued only when the order has already 
been passed. 
4. Mandamus: It literally means ‘we command’. This writ is thus a sort of command 
from a superior court to a subordinate court or an administrative authority in case 
they refuse to exercise their jurisdiction and fail to perform their duty. 
5. Quo Warranto: Such a type of writ is issued by a court to a public servant to 
enquire into the legality of his holding a public office and to oust him if his claim is 
not well-founded. Then this writ prevents an unlawful claimant from holding a 
superior public office. 
 
 
Additional Questions 
A. Fill in the blanks: 
1. In India there is a single unified system of courts for the Indian Union and the 
states. 
2. The Supreme Court of India is located in New Delhi. 
3. To qualify for the post of a judge in the Supreme Court, a person must either be 
an advocate of a High Court for at least ten years or a judge of a High Court 
for five years’ standing. 
4. The High Court controls and supervises the functioning of subordinate courts. 
5. The records of the High Court serve as references for lower courts in future 
cases. 
B. Match the following: 
 
Answer: 
 
 
Page 5


The Judiciary 
I. Fill in the blanks: 
1. The Supreme Court is the highest court of appeal in India. 
2. The Supreme Court of India consists of a Chief Justice and 30 other judges. 
3. The judges of the High Court retire at the age of 62 years. 
4. The courts at the district level and below it are known as the subordinate courts. 
5. The Chief Justice of India is J.S. Khehar. 
II. Match the contents of Column A with those of Column B: 
 
Answer: 
 
III. Tick mark (?) the correct statements and cross mark (X) the wrong ones: 
1. The judges of the Supreme Court retire at the age of 60.  X 
2. The President of India is free to remove the judges of the Supreme Court. X 
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. X 
IV. Answer the following questions: 
Question 1. 
Why is the Judiciary important? 
Answer: 
Judiciary is important because criminals and law breakers need to be punished. It is 
important to explain the meaning of laws, to interpret them and to apply them when and 
where needed. Legal disputes need to be settled. Without judiciary legal disputes 
cannot be settled. 
Question 2. 
What is the composition of the Supreme Court? 
Answer: 
The Supreme Court Consists of the Chief Justice and not more than thirty other judges. 
The number of judges in the Supreme Court is fixed by parliament from time to time. 
Question 3. 
Who appoints the judges? What are the qualifications of a Supreme Court judge? 
Answer: 
The Chief justice and the other judges are appointed by the President of India. In order 
to be judge of the Supreme Court, a person must meet the following requirements: 
1. He must be a citizen of India. 
2. He should either be a distinguished jurist. 
OR 
3. He should have been a high court judge for at least five years. 
OR 
4. He should have been an advocate of a High Court for at least ten years. 
Question 4. 
Describe the powers and functions of the High Court of India. What type of cases come 
before the High Courts in India? 
Answer: 
A High Court of India has to perform many functions and duties of judicial and non-
judicial nature. 
1. Original Jurisdictions : Cases relating to Fundamental Rights, divorce, wills and 
laws relating to marriage 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. 
The High Court supervises the functions of all subordinate courts in the state. It can also 
transfer a case from a subordinate court to itself or to another subordinate court if 
necessary. It can also examine their records. 
Question 5. 
What are the functions of a district judge? 
Answer: 
The courts at district level and below it are known as the subordinate courts. The 
administration of justice is conducted by two types of courts civil courts and criminal 
courts. 
The civil courts are the one which decide cases pertaining to money, contracts, 
marriage, etc. A District Judge is the head of judiciary in a district. His decisions are 
final. When the District Judge deals with criminal cases, he is known as the Sessions 
Judge. 
Question 6. 
Distinguish between civil and criminal cases. 
Answer: 
Civil cases are those which concern property disputes, contracts, marriage, divorce, etc. 
Criminal case are those where a crime has been committed e.g., murder, theft, etc. 
Question 7. 
Explain various types of writs. When are they issued? 
Answer: 
Supreme Court and High Courts protect Fundamental Rights from being eroded. 
They issue the following writs to the offending party: 
1. Habeous Corpus: It can get the body of any person released if it has been 
illegally captured. 
2. Prohibition: This is an order from a superior court to an inferior court to stop 
proceedings in a case which might be contemplating to do in excess of its 
jurisdiction. 
3. Certiorari: The writ is issued by a superior court to a judicial or quasi-judicial 
authorities in order to quash its order or decision. The difference between 
Prohibition and Certiorari is that while the former is issued when certain 
proceedings are still going on, the latter is issued only when the order has already 
been passed. 
4. Mandamus: It literally means ‘we command’. This writ is thus a sort of command 
from a superior court to a subordinate court or an administrative authority in case 
they refuse to exercise their jurisdiction and fail to perform their duty. 
5. Quo Warranto: Such a type of writ is issued by a court to a public servant to 
enquire into the legality of his holding a public office and to oust him if his claim is 
not well-founded. Then this writ prevents an unlawful claimant from holding a 
superior public office. 
 
 
Additional Questions 
A. Fill in the blanks: 
1. In India there is a single unified system of courts for the Indian Union and the 
states. 
2. The Supreme Court of India is located in New Delhi. 
3. To qualify for the post of a judge in the Supreme Court, a person must either be 
an advocate of a High Court for at least ten years or a judge of a High Court 
for five years’ standing. 
4. The High Court controls and supervises the functioning of subordinate courts. 
5. The records of the High Court serve as references for lower courts in future 
cases. 
B. Match the following: 
 
Answer: 
 
 
C. Choose the correct answer: 
1. Disputes between the union government and the state government fall under the 
Original/Advisory/Appellate Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. 
Ans. Disputes between the union government and the state government fail under 
the Original Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. 
2. The District Court/Nyaya Panchayats/Supreme Court has the power of judicial 
review. 
Ans. The Supreme Court has the power of judicial review. 
3. The High Court is the highest court of justice in a village/ district/state 
Ans. The High Court is the highest court of justice in-a state. 
4. Judges of the High Court can serve till they are 60/62/65 years old. 
Ans. Judges of the High Court can serve till they are 62 years old. 
5. The Nyaya Panchayats/Lok Adalats/District Courts were set up to provide quicker 
and cheaper judicial services. 
Ans. The Loh Adalats were set up to provide quicker and cheaper judicial 
services. 
D. State whether the following are true or false: 
1. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court is appointed by the Prime Minister of 
India. 
False. 
2. No cases can be brought directly to the Supreme Court for the first time. 
False. 
3. A High Court is not a court of record. 
False. 
4. A Nyaya Panchayat can impose a fine upto ? 10,000. 
False. 
5. The process of obtaining justice through law courts is a long-drawn-out and 
expensive process in our country. 
True. 
E. Answer the following questions in one or two words/ sentences: 
Question 1. 
On what grounds can Supreme Court judges be removed from office? 
Answer: 
Supreme Court judges can only be removed on grounds of proven misbehaviour or 
incapacity, through impeachment. 
Question 2. 
Mention any two kinds of disputes that can be brought directly before the Supreme 
Court.