Class 8 Social Science · Part 2 · Chapter 4

4. The Role of the Judiciary in Our Society

Answers to Think About It, Let’s Explore and Questions and Activities. NCERT Exploring Society: India and Beyond, Grade 8 Part 2 — Theme D: Governance and Democracy.

In-Chapter Questions

1Let’s ExploreThink of a time when you felt that someone had not been fair to you. How did you feel? What needed to be done to make it right? Who could have made things right?

Sample answer: Once, during a class test, a classmate copied my answers, but the teacher thought that I had copied from him and scolded me. I felt hurt, angry and helpless.

To make it right, the teacher needed to listen to both of us and find out the truth. Our class teacher could have made things right by checking our answer sheets and asking other students.

In such a situation, I would calmly explain my side to the teacher and ask for a fair inquiry.

Share your own experience in your group.

2Don’t Miss OutLook at the logo of the Supreme Court of India. What elements are familiar to you?

The logo has the wheel (chakra) taken from the Lion Capital of Aśhoka at Sarnath — the same wheel seen on our national flag. It also has the Sanskrit motto ‘yato dharmastato jayah’ (Where there is dharma, there is victory) written in Devanagari.

3Let’s ExploreSeveral High Courts have more than one bench. Explore which High Courts have more than one bench.

Bombay High Court — benches at Nagpur, Aurangabad (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar) and Goa (Panaji).
Allahabad High Court — bench at Lucknow.
Madras High Court — bench at Madurai.
Madhya Pradesh High Court (Jabalpur) — benches at Indore and Gwalior.
Rajasthan High Court (Jodhpur) — bench at Jaipur.
Karnataka High Court (Bengaluru) — benches at Dharwad and Kalaburagi.
Gauhati High Court — benches at Kohima, Aizawl and Itanagar.

4Let’s ExploreWhich Subordinate Court is closest to where you live?

Find out the name of the District Court, Sessions Court or Civil Court nearest to your home, and write its name and location.

Questions and Activities

1Write a model letter to the High Court or Supreme Court about a current social issue you have observed.

To
The Hon’ble Chief Justice,
High Court of Bombay,
Mumbai.

Subject: Pollution of the river in our village due to factory waste

Respected Sir/Madam,

I am a student of Grade 8 living in a village near Nashik. A factory upstream is releasing untreated waste into our river. The water has turned brown and smells bad. Many people and animals have fallen sick, and our crops are being damaged.

Clean water is part of our right to life under Article 21. I humbly request the Hon’ble Court to look into this matter and direct the authorities to stop the pollution and clean the river.

Thanking you,
Yours faithfully,
(Name)
Grade 8, (School name)
Date: ________

2Imagine you are part of the legislature or executive. Given the large number of cases, what innovative solutions can you devise?

Appoint more judges and fill all vacant posts quickly.
Set up more courts, fast-track courts and Gram Nyayalayas.
Encourage Lok Adalats, mediation and arbitration to settle disputes outside courts.
Use technology — e-filing, online hearings and digital records.
Simplify old and complicated laws and procedures.
Fix time limits for deciding certain kinds of cases.

3Create a moot court and enact the following cases. What considerations might the judge need to take into account?

(i) Anita is paid less than Sameer for the same job.

Anita’s view: We have the same qualification and do the same work, so I must get equal pay. Paying me less because I am a woman is discrimination.

Employer’s view: The employer may try to argue that Sameer does extra work or has more experience.

Judge’s considerations: Whether both do the same work with the same qualifications; the right to equality (Article 14); no discrimination on the basis of sex (Article 15); and the principle of equal pay for equal work.

Likely outcome: If the work is the same, the court will order the factory to pay Anita equally and give her the difference in salary (arrears).

(ii) Villagers find the river water polluted by a factory upstream.

Collect evidence — photographs, water samples and medical records of sick people.
Complain to the gram panchayat, the district collector and the State Pollution Control Board.
Approach the National Green Tribunal, which decides environmental cases.
File a PIL in the High Court under Article 226, since clean water is part of the right to life (Article 21).
Spread awareness through the media.

4Write an essay about an eminent judge of the Supreme Court or a High Court from your state or district.

Justice Y. V. Chandrachud

Justice Yeshwant Vishnu Chandrachud was born in Pune, Maharashtra, in 1920. He studied law and practised as a lawyer in Bombay. He later became a judge of the Bombay High Court and then of the Supreme Court.

In 1978, he became the 16th Chief Justice of India and served until 1985. This is the longest term of any Chief Justice of India so far.

During his career, he heard many important cases on the Constitution and the rights of citizens. He was known for his hard work, clear judgments and his belief in protecting the basic structure of the Constitution. He is remembered as one of India’s great judges.

Write about a judge from your own state or district.

5Interact with someone who is part of the judicial system. Understand their work, challenges and satisfaction. Create a small presentation.

This is a group activity. You may interview a lawyer, a judge, a court clerk or a police officer.

Sample questions: What does your work involve every day? What are the biggest challenges you face? How long do cases usually take? What gives you the most satisfaction in your work?

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