Study Guide · Civics

What is Judiciary? Role in Democracy (Class 9)

The Judiciary is the third branch of government (after Legislature and Executive) that interprets laws, settles disputes, and protects the rights of citizens. In India, it operates independently of the Parliament and Government — which is crucial for justice.

Question (Click to Flip)

What is the judiciary?

Answer

The judiciary is the branch of government that interprets and applies laws, settles disputes, and protects citizens' rights through a system of courts.

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Key Facts

Highest Court: Supreme Court of India, New Delhi.

Chief Justice: Head of the Supreme Court.

Judicial Review: Power to strike down unconstitutional laws.

Independence Guaranteed By: Constitutional provisions for appointment and removal.

Structure of the Indian Judiciary

India has a hierarchical (three-tier) court system:

Supreme Court (New Delhi) — Top court; final authority on all legal matters.
High Courts — One per state or group of states; handles appeals from lower courts.
District Courts — Handle civil and criminal cases at the district level.
Subordinate Courts — Magistrate courts, family courts, etc.

Key Functions of the Judiciary

Dispute Resolution: Settles conflicts between citizens, organizations, and government.
Judicial Review: Can declare any law unconstitutional if it violates Fundamental Rights.
Guardian of the Constitution: Protects the Constitution from being violated by the government.
Protection of Rights: Citizens can approach courts if their rights are violated (Article 32).

Independence of Judiciary

A key feature of Indian democracy is that judges are appointed independently and cannot be removed easily by the government. This ensures they make decisions based on law, not political pressure.

Questions and Answers

What is the judiciary?+

The judiciary is the branch of government that interprets and applies laws, settles disputes, and protects citizens' rights through a system of courts.

What is judicial review?+

Judicial review is the power of the Supreme Court to examine laws passed by Parliament and strike them down if they violate the Constitution.

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