Focus On Solutions for ICSE Class 8 History Civics Chapter 3 The Judiciary

The Judiciary

I. Fill in the blanks:

Question 1: The Supreme Court is the highest court of appeal in India.
Answer: Supreme Court
This means it is the final authority where people can take their cases if they are not satisfied with lower court decisions. It is the most powerful judicial body in the entire nation.

Teacher's Tip: Think of the Supreme Court as the 'Principal' of all the other 'School' courts.
Exam Tip: Always mention that it is the "highest" court to secure full marks.

Question 2: The Supreme Court of India consists of a Chief Justice and 30 other judges.
Answer: Chief Justice, 30 other judges
The total number of judges is decided by the Parliament to handle the large number of cases in India. The Chief Justice is the lead judge who oversees the administrative side of the court.

Teacher's Tip: Remember "1 + 30" - one leader and thirty helpers!
Exam Tip: Make sure to mention both parts: the Chief Justice and the specific number of judges.

Question 3: The judges of the High Court retire at the age of 62 years.
Answer: 62 years
Retirement ages are set by law to ensure that judges serve while they are at their most capable. Different levels of courts have slightly different retirement ages.

Teacher's Tip: High Court is 62, while Supreme Court is 65 - remember the bigger court has the bigger age!
Exam Tip: Mention the unit "years" along with the number for a complete answer.

Question 4: The courts at the district level and below it are known as the subordinate courts.
Answer: subordinate courts
These are the courts where most people go first when they have a legal problem. They are called "subordinate" because they follow the rules set by the High Courts and the Supreme Court.

Teacher's Tip: Think of "subordinate" as "junior" courts in the legal hierarchy.
Exam Tip: Use the plural "courts" when writing the answer to be grammatically correct.

Question 5: The Chief Justice of India is J.S. Khehar.
Answer: J.S. Khehar
The Chief Justice of India holds a very respected position and is appointed by the President. This official leads the entire judicial system of the country.

Teacher's Tip: This is a name that changes, so it is good to stay updated with the news!
Exam Tip: Write the initials clearly to avoid losing marks for incorrect naming.

II. Match the contents of Column A with those of Column B:

1. Parliament (a) village courts.
2. Supreme Court (b) hears criminal cases.
3. A District Judge (c) hears civil cases.
4. A Sessions Judge (d) decides the number of judges in the Supreme Court.
5. Nyaya Panchayats (e) is the highest court of appeal in India.
Answer:
1. Parliament (d) decides the number of judges in the Supreme Court.
2. Supreme Court (e) is the highest court of appeal in India.
3. A District Judge (c) hears civil cases.
4. A Sessions Judge (b) hears criminal cases.
5. Nyaya Panchayats (a) village courts.
Matching these terms correctly shows how the different parts of the government and law work together. For example, while judges decide on cases, the Parliament has the power to set the rules for the courts.

Teacher's Tip: Match "Nyaya" with "Village" as they are the local roots of justice.
Exam Tip: Draw straight lines or re-write the pairs clearly to make it easy for the teacher to grade.

III. Tick mark (✓) the correct statements and cross mark (X) the wrong ones:

Question 1: The judges of the Supreme Court retire at the age of 60. X
Answer: X
Supreme Court judges actually retire at the age of 65, which is later than the High Court retirement age. This allows highly experienced judges to serve in the nation's highest court longer.

Teacher's Tip: Remember: Higher court = Higher retirement age (65).
Exam Tip: If the statement is false, don't just put a cross; try to remember the correct fact in your head.

Question 2: The President of India is free to remove the judges of the Supreme Court. X
Answer: X
Judges can only be removed through a very difficult process called impeachment by the Parliament. This ensures that judges can make decisions without fearing the President's personal opinion.

Teacher's Tip: Judges are independent, which means the President can't just 'fire' them.
Exam Tip: The word "free" in a legal context often signals a false statement because there are always rules.

Question 3: The Chief Justice of the High Court is appointed by the President of India. ✓
Answer: ✓
The President consults with the Chief Justice of India and the Governor of the state before making this appointment. This process involves multiple high-ranking officials to ensure the best person is chosen.

Teacher's Tip: President starts the process for all major judges in India.
Exam Tip: Note that "appointment" is the keyword here, which is a duty of the President.

Question 4: The highest criminal court in the district is the munsif court. X
Answer: X
The Sessions Court is the highest criminal court in a district. Munsif courts usually handle small civil cases rather than major crimes.

Teacher's Tip: Criminal = Sessions. Civil = Munsif.
Exam Tip: Differentiate clearly between civil and criminal court names at the district level.

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.
The judiciary acts as a neutral umpire that makes sure everyone follows the same set of rules. It protects our rights and prevents people from taking the law into their own hands.

Teacher's Tip: Think of the judiciary as the 'Umpire' in a game of cricket who makes sure everyone plays fair.
Exam Tip: Use keywords like "interpret laws" and "settle disputes" to get full marks.

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.
The composition refers to who makes up the court and how many people are involved. The Parliament has the constitutional power to increase this number if there are too many cases to handle.

Teacher's Tip: "Chief Justice + 30" is the standard formula to memorize.
Exam Tip: Mention that the "Parliament" has the power to change the number for extra credit.

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.
Appointment by the President ensures that the judges are chosen with the highest dignity of the nation. The qualifications are very strict so that only the most experienced legal minds lead the country.

Teacher's Tip: Remember the "5 or 10 rule" - 5 years as a judge or 10 years as an advocate.
Exam Tip: When listing qualifications, use "OR" clearly to show they don't need to meet every single experience requirement.

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.
High Courts act as the top judicial authority in their respective states. They have the power to protect a citizen's basic rights and double-check decisions made by smaller district courts.

Teacher's Tip: "Original" means it starts there; "Appellate" means it comes from a lower court.
Exam Tip: Divide your answer into "Original" and "Appellate" categories to show a clear understanding of jurisdiction.

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.
A district judge acts as the highest legal officer for that specific area. They must have a wide knowledge of both family laws and laws concerning serious crimes.

Teacher's Tip: One person, two names! He is a "District Judge" for money and a "Sessions Judge" for crimes.
Exam Tip: Mention the title "Sessions Judge" to show you understand the criminal side of the role.

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.
Civil cases usually involve disagreements between two private people or groups. Criminal cases involve the government taking action against someone who has broken a major law that hurts society.

Teacher's Tip: Civil = Disputes between people. Criminal = Breaking the law and hurting others.
Exam Tip: Always provide examples like "murder" or "property" to make your definitions clearer.

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.
Writs are special legal orders that only higher courts can give to protect our freedom. They act as "shields" for citizens against unfair actions by officials or lower courts.

Teacher's Tip: Use the literal meanings, like Mandamus = "We Command," to help you remember what they do.
Exam Tip: If you get confused between Prohibition and Certiorari, remember: Prohibition is for "during" and Certiorari is for "after" a decision.

Additional Questions

A. Fill in the blanks:

Question 1: In India there is a single unified system of courts for the Indian Union and the states.
Answer: single
This means that even though we have different states, the laws and court hierarchy apply to everyone in the same way. It keeps the country united under one legal umbrella.

Teacher's Tip: Think of one long ladder - everyone climbs the same steps from District to Supreme Court.
Exam Tip: The word "unified" is a hint that there is only "single" system.

Question 2: The Supreme Court of India is located in New Delhi.
Answer: New Delhi
Being in the capital city allows the Supreme Court to be close to the central government. It is a historic building that represents the center of Indian justice.

Teacher's Tip: Most top government offices are in the capital, New Delhi!
Exam Tip: Always capitalize the first letters of "New Delhi" as it is a city name.

Question 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.
Answer: ten, five
These time requirements ensure that only people with a decade of legal practice or significant experience on a bench are selected. It guarantees that judges have seen many different types of cases before reaching the top.

Teacher's Tip: Advocate = 10, Judge = 5. The lawyer needs double the time!
Exam Tip: Be careful to match the correct number of years to the correct role (Advocate/Judge).

Question 4: The High Court controls and supervises the functioning of subordinate courts.
Answer: supervises
The High Court acts like a teacher checking the homework of the smaller district courts. It makes sure that they are following the correct procedures and giving fair trials.

Teacher's Tip: Super-vise = Super vision. The High Court keeps a "super" eye on the others!
Exam Tip: Learn the spelling of "supervises" as it is a common technical term.

Question 5: The records of the High Court serve as references for lower courts in future cases.
Answer: references
When a High Court makes a decision, it becomes a "guidebook" for how similar cases should be decided later. These records are saved very carefully to help future lawyers and judges.

Teacher's Tip: Think of High Court records like a 'History Book' of fair decisions.
Exam Tip: You can also use the word "precedents" if you want to sound like an expert.

B. Match the following:

1. Supreme Court (a) can have two more states under its jurisdiction.
2. High Court (b) village level courts
3. Nyaya Panchayats (c) affordable and speedy justice
4. Lok Adalats (d) free legal aid and service
5. Legal Aid Scheme (e) the apex court of India
Answer:
1. Supreme Court (e) the apex court of India
2. High Court (a) can have two more states under its jurisdiction.
3. Nyaya Panchayats (b) village level courts
4. Lok Adalats (c) affordable and speedy justice
5. Legal Aid Scheme (d) free legal aid and service
These matches help you identify the level and purpose of different parts of the legal system. For instance, Lok Adalats are designed to save time and money for ordinary people.

Teacher's Tip: "Apex" means "the highest point," so match it with the Supreme Court.
Exam Tip: Re-read your matches twice to make sure you didn't mix up "Nyaya Panchayats" with "Lok Adalats."

C. Choose the correct answer:

Question 1: Disputes between the union government and the state government fall under the Original/Advisory/Appellate Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.
Answer: Disputes between the union government and the state government fall under the Original Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.
"Original" means these cases go directly to the Supreme Court without visiting smaller courts first. This is because only the highest court in the land should handle disagreements between governments.

Teacher's Tip: If governments are fighting, they go straight to the 'Supreme' boss - that's Original Jurisdiction!
Exam Tip: Remember that "Original" is for cases that *begin* at the Supreme Court.

Question 2: The District Court/Nyaya Panchayats/Supreme Court has the power of judicial review.
Answer: The Supreme Court has the power of judicial review.
Judicial review is the power to cancel any law made by the Parliament if it violates the Constitution. This ensures that the Constitution remains the ultimate law of the land.

Teacher's Tip: Review = Re-view. The Supreme Court looks again at the laws to make sure they are fair.
Exam Tip: This is a very important concept, so memorize "Supreme Court" for "Judicial Review."

Question 3: The High Court is the highest court of justice in a village/ district/state
Answer: The High Court is the highest court of justice in a state.
Each state usually has its own High Court to handle its specific legal matters. Some High Courts even serve more than one state or union territory.

Teacher's Tip: Village (Panchayat) -> District (District Court) -> State (High Court).
Exam Tip: Don't pick "district" by mistake; the District Court is *below* the High Court.

Question 4: Judges of the High Court can serve till they are 60/62/65 years old.
Answer: Judges of the High Court can serve till they are 62 years old.
This mandatory retirement age ensures that new legal minds get a chance to serve regularly. It is three years earlier than the retirement age for Supreme Court judges.

Teacher's Tip: 62 is for High, 65 is for Supreme. High is a smaller number than Supreme!
Exam Tip: Be very careful with these numbers, as they are often used to confuse students in tests.

Question 5: The Nyaya Panchayats/Lok Adalats/District Courts were set up to provide quicker and cheaper judicial services.
Answer: The Lok Adalats were set up to provide quicker and cheaper judicial services.
Lok Adalats help clear the backlog of cases in regular courts by settling disputes through talking. They are great for people who cannot afford expensive lawyers or long trials.

Teacher's Tip: "Lok" means people - these are the 'People's Courts' meant for fast help.
Exam Tip: Use the keyword "speedy justice" to remember Lok Adalats.

D. State whether the following are true or false:

Question 1: The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court is appointed by the Prime Minister of India.
Answer: False.
The President of India is the one who officially appoints the Chief Justice. The Prime Minister and the Cabinet can only give advice on this choice.

Teacher's Tip: Big appointments like this always come from the President's signature.
Exam Tip: Always cross-check who is the appointing authority in your textbook.

Question 2: No cases can be brought directly to the Supreme Court for the first time.
Answer: False.
Under "Original Jurisdiction," cases like disputes between states go straight to the Supreme Court. Citizens can also go there directly if their Fundamental Rights are being taken away.

Teacher's Tip: "Original" means it's the very first place the case starts!
Exam Tip: The word "no" in a statement often makes it false because there are usually special exceptions.

Question 3: A High Court is not a court of record.
Answer: False.
Both High Courts and the Supreme Court are "courts of record," meaning their decisions are saved and used as laws for future cases. These records are very important for legal history.

Teacher's Tip: Every top court keeps a 'Record' so they don't have to guess the rules next time.
Exam Tip: Remember that both the Supreme and High courts *are* courts of record.

Question 4: A Nyaya Panchayat can impose a fine upto Rs. 10,000.
Answer: False.
Nyaya Panchayats can only impose very small fines because they handle petty village crimes. The amount is usually much lower, like Rs. 100, to keep justice simple at the local level.

Teacher's Tip: Villages handle small money, so Rs. 10,000 is way too high for them!
Exam Tip: Note the specific amounts in the textbook to catch these false statements.

Question 5: The process of obtaining justice through law courts is a long-drawn-out and expensive process in our country.
Answer: True.
Cases in regular courts can sometimes take many years to finish, and lawyers' fees can be very high. This is exactly why the government started Lok Adalats to help people get justice faster.

Teacher's Tip: This is a sad truth, but it's why we have alternative ways to solve problems!
Exam Tip: This is a general observation about our legal system, so it is often an easy "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.
Misbehaviour means the judge did something wrong on purpose, and incapacity means they are no longer able to do the work. The impeachment process requires a majority vote in both houses of Parliament.

Teacher's Tip: "Impeachment" is the special word for firing a high official!
Exam Tip: Use both "misbehaviour" and "incapacity" to give a perfect answer.

Question 2: Mention any two kinds of disputes that can be brought directly before the Supreme Court.
Answer: Following cases can be directly brought before the Supreme Court:
1. If there are disputes between the Union Government and a State Government or more than one State Government.
2. Cases concerning the violation of the Constitution by the Government or an individual.
These are cases of high national importance that don't need to go through lower courts. They help keep the balance of power between the center and the states.

Teacher's Tip: Big fights between governments go straight to the top!
Exam Tip: When asked for "two," number them clearly so the examiner sees both points.

Question 3: What is the Advisory Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court?
Answer: The Supreme Court can advise the President, on request, on legal and constitutional issues. The President may or may not accept the advice.
This is like the President asking the court for an expert opinion before making a big decision. The court gives the best legal guidance, but it's not a rule the President *must* follow.

Teacher's Tip: Advisory = Giving advice, like a teacher helping a student!
Exam Tip: Mention that the President "may or may not" follow the advice for a complete mark.

Question 4: Why are the records of the cases and judgement of the Supreme Court important?
Answer: These records serve as references in future cases.
When a new legal problem comes up, lawyers look at these old records to see how the highest court solved it before. It helps keep justice consistent across the whole country.

Teacher's Tip: Records are the 'Memory' of the court.
Exam Tip: Use the word "reference" to explain why we keep these files.

Question 5: Who appoints the Chief Justice of the High Courts?
Answer: The President appoints the Chief Justice of the High Court and the other judges in consultation with the Governor of the state and the Chief Justice of India.
The President doesn't choose alone; he gets opinions from the leaders who know the state and the law best. This team effort ensures that the most qualified person is picked for each state.

Teacher's Tip: President + Governor + CJI = A new High Court judge!
Exam Tip: Don't forget to mention that the "President" is the one who makes the final appointment.

Question 6: What are writs ?
Answer: A writ is a form of written command, or legal document giving order or direction to a person to act or not to act in a particular way. Some of the writs are the writs of Habeus Corpus, Mandamus, Prohibition, Certiorari, Quo Warranto, etc.
Writs are like "super-orders" that can stop an official from doing something wrong immediately. They are the most important tools used by higher courts to protect our basic human rights.

Teacher's Tip: A writ is like a 'Stop Sign' or 'Go Sign' from a judge.
Exam Tip: List one or two examples of writs to show you know what they are.

Question 7: What is a Nyaya Panchayat?
Answer: Nyaya Panchayat is a small law court at the village level which try petty civil and criminal cases such as trespassing, personal disputes, minor thefts etc.
These are local village councils that help solve small problems without having to travel to a big city court. They help keep the peace in rural areas by using simple, local wisdom.

Teacher's Tip: Nyaya = Justice, Panchayat = Village Council. Justice at your doorstep!
Exam Tip: Mention "petty" cases to show they only handle small issues.

Question 8: Why have Lok Adalats been set up?
Answer: In order to provide quicker and cheaper judicial services, Lok Adalats have been set up.
Regular courts are very busy, so Lok Adalats help by solving cases through agreement between both sides. They help poor people get fair results without waiting for years.

Teacher's Tip: Lok Adalats are the 'Fast Track' to justice.
Exam Tip: Focus on the "cheap" and "quick" nature of these courts in your answer.

Question 9: Why are Lok Adalats becoming popular?
Answer: Lok Adalats are becoming popular because they provide affordable and speedy justice.
People like them because they don't have to pay expensive lawyers and the decisions are made very quickly. It's a much less stressful way to settle a legal disagreement.

Teacher's Tip: Popular = Because they are fast and don't cost much money!
Exam Tip: Re-use the same keywords "affordable" and "speedy" as they are the correct legal descriptions.

Question 10: What is the objective of the Legal Aid Scheme?
Answer: The objective of the Legal Aid Scheme, is to provide free legal aid and legal services to the poorer and weaker sections of the society.
This scheme makes sure that money is not an obstacle to getting justice. It provides lawyers and legal help for people who could never afford them otherwise.

Teacher's Tip: Legal Aid is like a 'Free Pass' for justice for those in need.
Exam Tip: Mention "poorer and weaker sections" to identify who this scheme is for.

F. Answer the following questions briefly:

Question 1: The Supreme Court is the highest judicial body in the country. In this context, explain:
(a) Its original Jurisdiction (b) Its Appellate Jurisdiction. (c) Why it is called the guardian of the Constitution.
Answer: (a) Original Jurisdiction: Certain cases are brought before the Supreme Court directly, for the first time. This happens in cases involving:
1. Disputes between the union government and one or more state governments.
2. Disputes between two or more states governments.
3. Violation of the Constitution by the government or an individual.
4. Violation of the Fundamental Rights of an individual.
(b) Appellate Jurisdiction: The Supreme Court hears appeals against judgements of High Courts. The Supreme Court is the final court of appeal and has power to review and change decisions of the High Court.
(c) The Supreme Court is the guardian of the Constitution. It safeguards the Constitution in two ways:
1. It can cancel a law or an executive order if it is found to violate the Constitution.
2. It can issue writs (orders or directions) for the enforcement of the Fundamental Rights.
The Supreme Court is like a security guard for our country's laws, making sure they are never broken by anyone, including the government. It has multiple jobs, from starting important new cases to fixing mistakes made by lower courts.

Teacher's Tip: Original = Start, Appellate = Appeal. Guarding = Protecting the law book (Constitution).
Exam Tip: Label each part (a, b, c) in your answer to get full marks for the multi-part question.

Question 2: With reference to the powers of the High Court, discuss its:
(a) Original Jurisdiction (b) Appellate Jurisdiction. (c) Review and Revisory Jurisdiction
Answer: (a) Original Jurisdiction: A High Court can hear the cases brought for the first time or we can say original cases if they are concerned with disputes regarding Fundamental rights and election petitions.
(b) Appellate Jurisdiction: A High Court has Appellate Jurisdiction where it can hear appeals against judgements passed in Subordinate Courts. The High Court can review and change decisions taken in the Subordinate Courts.
(c) The High Court can review and change decisions taken in the subordinate courts. It can also transfer a case from one court to another. A High Court also controls and supervises the functioning of subordinate courts.
A High Court acts as the most important legal authority within a state's borders. It keeps all the smaller courts in line and makes sure everyone's basic rights are respected from the very beginning.

Teacher's Tip: High Court is like the 'Supervisor' of the state's legal system.
Exam Tip: Mention "election petitions" under original jurisdiction as it is a specific detail teachers love to see.

Question 3: In the context of the judicial system in India, answer the following questions:
(a) What are the main features of a Nyaya Panchayat? (b) Why are Lok Adalats are becoming popular in India? (c) Mention the sections of society which receive free legal services under the Legal Aid Scheme.
Answer: (a) Nyaya Panchayat try petty civil and criminal cases of the village level. They can impose fines upto Rs. 100 only and appeals can be made against decisions taken in the Nyaya Panchayat, to higher courts.
(b) Lok Adalats are becoming popular because they provide affordable and speedy justice.
(c) Sections of society who receive free legal services under the Legal Aid Scheme are:
1. People belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other backward classes.
- People who are mentally ill or disabled.
- Women and children.
These systems were created to bring justice down to the people who need it most, regardless of where they live or how much they earn. It's the government's way of making sure the law helps everyone, not just the wealthy.

Teacher's Tip: These are the three 'Helper' systems of Indian law - local, fast, and free!
Exam Tip: For part (c), listing categories like "women and children" separately helps show a detailed answer.

G Picture study:

Introduction: This is a picture of the apex Indian court. It is the highest judicial authority in our country.
Answer: The picture shows the Supreme Court building in New Delhi, which has a very famous dome. It represents the ultimate power of justice for all Indian citizens.

Teacher's Tip: Look at the dome - it's the signature look of the Supreme Court!
Exam Tip: When you see a large, domed white building in a Civics textbook, it's almost always the Supreme Court.

Question 1: Identify it.
Answer: It is Supreme Court of India.
This is where the most important legal decisions for the whole country are made. It was founded after India became a Republic in 1950.

Teacher's Tip: Apex = Top. Supreme = Highest. They mean the same thing!
Exam Tip: Always include "of India" to make the name formal.

Question 2: What is the composition of this court?
Answer: It has one Chief Justice and a number of other Judges. At Present, the number of Judges including the Chief Justice cannot exceed twenty-five.
The court is made up of a team of very experienced judges from all over the country. They work together in small groups called "benches" to hear cases.

Teacher's Tip: Composition means 'What it is made of.'
Exam Tip: Note that the "twenty-five" limit was the rule when this textbook was written; mention "not more than thirty" if using the updated rules from later pages.

Question 3: Who appoints the judges?
Answer: The Judge of the Supreme Court are appointed by the President on the advice of the Council of Ministers and the Chief Justice of India.
This ensures that the executive branch and the judicial branch work together to find the best leaders. It is a very formal ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Teacher's Tip: President's signature is the final step in picking a judge!
Exam Tip: Mention "Council of Ministers" and "Chief Justice" to show you know who gives the advice.

Question 4: Explain its role as the guardian of the Constitution.
Answer: The Supreme Court is the guardian of the Constitution. It safeguards the Constitution in two ways:
1. It can cancel a law or an executive order if it is found to violate the Constitution.
2. It can issue writs (orders or directions) for the enforcement of the Fundamental Rights.
Being the "guardian" means the court protects the rules of the country like a parent protects a child. If anyone tries to make an unfair rule, the Supreme Court can say "No" and stop it.

Teacher's Tip: A guardian is a protector. The Court protects our 'Rule Book' (the Constitution).
Exam Tip: Memorize the term "Judicial Review" for part 1 and "Writs" for part 2 to explain this role perfectly.