NCERT Solutions for Class 8 Social Science Chapter 4 - The Role of the Judiciary in Our Society

The Big Questions

1. What is the concept of justice?

Answer:

Justice means ensuring fairness, equality and dignity for everyone in society. It is achieved when people are treated fairly according to the law and the Constitution.

Justice has two important aspects:

• Substantive justice: It focuses on the outcome of a case and whether the decision is fair, just and reasonable.

• Procedural justice: It ensures that everyone involved in a case gets a full opportunity to be heard before the court makes a decision. A person is also presumed innocent until proved guilty.

Thus, justice is not only about reaching a fair decision but also about following a fair process. 

2. Why is it important for a just and harmonious society?

Answer:

Justice is important for a just and harmonious society because it helps maintain peace, equality and dignity among people.

It is important because:

• It ensures that people are treated fairly.

• It protects the principles of equality and dignity.

• It provides a fair way to resolve disputes.

• It helps maintain peace and harmony in society.

• The judiciary ensures that disputes are decided according to the law and the Constitution.

Therefore, justice creates a society where people can expect fair treatment and peaceful dispute resolution.

3. What is the structure and role of the judiciary in India?

Answer:

India has a unified judicial system organised in a hierarchy of courts:

1. Supreme Court: It is the highest court in India and stands at the apex of the judicial system.

2. High Courts: They function at the State level and are the highest courts within their respective States.

3. Subordinate Courts: These function mainly at the district and lower levels and include District Courts, Sessions Courts, Revenue Courts and Small Causes Courts. 

The judiciary is one of the three pillars of government and functions independently of the legislature and executive. Its main roles are to:

• resolve disputes in a fair and just manner;

• ensure that laws made by the legislature remain within the Constitution;

• ensure that the executive does not go beyond its constitutional role; and

• protect Fundamental Rights through the courts.

An independent judiciary therefore plays an important role in ensuring justice and upholding the Constitution.

4. What are the alternative modes of dispute resolution?

Answer:
Not every dispute has to be resolved through regular court proceedings. The chapter explains several alternative modes of dispute resolution, including:

• Arbitration: The parties refer their dispute to an independent person or panel (an arbitrator). The arbitrator hears both sides and issues a legally binding, enforceable decision.

• Mediation/Conciliation: A neutral mediator helps the parties communicate and reach a mutually acceptable settlement. The mediator does not decide the dispute or impose a solution.

• Negotiation: The parties try to resolve their dispute through discussion and agreement.

• Lok Adalats: These are special forums that help parties settle disputes amicably, including cases already pending before courts or disputes that have not yet reached a court.

These methods offer other ways to settle disputes and can help reduce the burden on regular courts.

LET’S EXPLORE 

1. Think of a time when you felt that someone had not been fair to you. How did you feel? What did you think needed to be done to make the situation right? Who could have made things right? What would you do in such a situation? Share in small groups. 

Answer:

This is a student-based activity, so the answer will depend on each student’s personal experience of being treated unfairly.

In general, unfair treatment may make a person feel upset, disappointed, hurt, or ignored. To make things right, everyone involved should have a fair chance to explain their side, and the problem should be resolved fairly. A teacher, parent, elder, or another responsible person may help if needed. In such situations, students should stay calm, explain the problem clearly, listen to others, and work toward a fair solution.

2. Several High Courts mentioned in the table have more than one bench. With your teachers' help, explore which High Courts have more than one bench. 

Answer:

This is an activity-based question. Students should refer to the High Court table and, with their teacher’s help, identify the High Courts that have more than one bench.

3. Which Subordinate Court is closest to where you live?

Answer:

This is a student-based activity, so the answer will depend on where the student lives. 

Students can identify the nearest District Court, Sessions Court, Revenue Court, or other Subordinate Court in their area with the help of their teacher or parents.

Questions and Activities 

1. Write a model letter to the High Court or Supreme Court about a current social issue you have observed to bring it to the notice of the judiciary. 

Answer:

A simple model letter can be written as follows:

To,
The Hon’ble High Court

Subject: Concern regarding pollution of a local water source

Respected Sir/Madam,

I would like to bring to your notice the pollution of a water source in our area. Polluted water can affect people, animals and the environment. I request the concerned authorities to look into the matter and take suitable steps to protect the water source and the people who depend on it.

Thank you.

Yours sincerely,
[Student’s Name]

2. Imagine that you are part of the legislature or executive. Given the large number of cases in the judicial system, what innovative solutions can you devise to address the issue? 

Answer:
The number of cases can be managed better by making greater use of the methods discussed in the chapter:

• Encourage mediation and arbitration to settle suitable disputes outside regular courts.

• Use Lok Adalats to settle disputes amicably.

• Strengthen Gram Nyayalayas to provide justice at the village level.

• Use specialised tribunals for specific types of disputes.

• Expand e-Filing and hybrid hearings to make court processes easier and more efficient.

• Use the National Judicial Data Grid to improve access to case information.

These measures can help make the judicial process more accessible and reduce the burden on regular courts.

3. Create a moot court and enact the following cases. What are the considerations that the judge might need to take into account to arrive at a just outcome? 

i. Anita and Sameer worked in a factory that produced different types of screws. They had both completed an Industrial Training Institute diploma and joined the factory together. One day, Anita discovered that she was getting paid less than Sameer for the same job. After many appeals to her boss and no change in her salary, she decided to go to court. Enact this scene from the litigants’ perspective, showcasing their respective points of view. What might be the outcome of the case? 

ii. The people of a village living next to a river used its water for drinking and irrigation purposes. Gradually, they noticed that the clear water was turning brownish and began to smell too. Many people were falling sick. They figured this was due to effluents being discharged by a factory upstream. What steps could the village residents take to ensure the water is clean again? 

Answer:

Do it yourself.

4. Many eminent individuals from across India have served as Supreme Court or High Court judges. Write an essay about one such individual from your state or district, talking about their contributions as a judge of the Supreme Court or High Court. 

Answer:

This is a student-based research activity, and the answer will depend on the State or district in which the student lives.

5. Have an interaction with anyone you know who is a part of the judicial system. Try to understand their work, the challenges they face, and what gives them satisfaction. Create a small presentation and share it with the class. You can do this in small groups. 

Answer:

This is an interaction-based student activity, so the response will depend on the person each student or group interacts with. So, do it yourself.

How Vedantu’s NCERT Solutions for Class 8 Social Science Chapter 4 Make Learning Easier

Understanding the chapter matters, but students also need to know what a question expects and how to present answers clearly. The NCERT Class 8 Social Science Chapter 4 solutions are designed to support students at this stage.

With these solutions, students can:

• Understand before memorising: Learn the idea behind an answer instead of memorising lines.

• Improve answer writing: See how important points can be arranged in a clear, exam-friendly format.

• Handle activities confidently: Get guidance for questions based on observation, exploration and personal experience.

• Check their answers: Attempt questions independently and compare them with the given solutions.

• Revise without confusion: Quickly return to important textbook questions while preparing for tests and exams.

• Study at their own pace: Use the NCERT Class 8 Social Science Chapter 4 solutions PDF along with the textbook whenever revision is needed.

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