Key Points

The Judiciary is one of the three main organs of the government, along with the Legislature and the Executive. It is designed to be independent to ensure fair decision-making.

The judiciary's main functions are to resolve disputes, interpret the Constitution, uphold laws, and protect the Fundamental Rights of citizens.

India has a unified and hierarchical judicial system. The Supreme Court is at the top, followed by High Courts at the state level, and Subordinate Courts at the district level.

The Supreme Court of India, established on January 26, 1950, is the highest court in the country. Its decisions are binding on all other courts in India.

Judges of the Supreme Court, including the Chief Justice of India, are appointed by the President of India. They serve until they reach the retirement age of 65 years.

A High Court is the highest judicial body in a state. There are 25 High Courts in India, and some of them have jurisdiction over more than one state or Union Territory.

Judges of the High Court are appointed by the President of India and they retire upon attaining the age of 62 years.

Substantive justice focuses on a fair and just final outcome. Procedural justice ensures that every person involved gets a full and fair opportunity to be heard before a decision is made.

Citizens can file a 'Writ Petition' directly in the Supreme Court (under Article 32) or the High Court (under Article 226) if their Fundamental Rights are violated.

PIL is a legal tool that allows any citizen to bring a case to court on matters of public concern. It was introduced by the Supreme Court to expand access to justice for disadvantaged groups.

Original jurisdiction is the power to hear a case for the first time, such as disputes between states. Appellate jurisdiction is the power to review decisions made by lower courts.

To reduce the burden on courts, methods like Arbitration, Mediation, and Lok Adalats are used. These are alternative ways to resolve disputes without a formal court trial.

Lok Adalats are 'people's courts' that settle disputes amicably. Gram Nyayalayas are mobile village-level courts designed to provide speedy and inexpensive justice at the grassroots level.

The judicial system is using digital technology like e-filing, hybrid hearings, and the National Judicial Data Grid to increase transparency and make the system more accessible.

In 2023, India replaced three key criminal laws. The Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, and Indian Evidence Act were replaced by new laws to modernize the justice system.