ICSE Class 10
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๐Ÿ“– Summaries โ€บ History and Civics

High Court and Subordinate Courts

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Chapter in a nutshell: Below the Supreme Court, each state has a High Court (the highest court of the state) headed by a Chief Justice, with original, appellate, writ and supervisory jurisdiction. Under it work the subordinate courts โ€” the District Court (civil) and Sessions Court (criminal) and lower courts/magistrates โ€” plus Lok Adalats for quick, cheap justice.

1. The High Court โ€” Composition & Qualifications

  • Each state (some shared) has a High Court = a Chief Justice + other judges (number fixed by the President).
  • Qualifications: a citizen, with 10 years in a judicial office or 10 years as a High Court advocate.
  • Appointed by the President; judges retire at 62 years.

2. Independence of the High Court

Like the Supreme Court: security of tenure (removal only by impeachment), fixed salaries, conduct not discussed in legislatures โ€” keeping it free of pressure.

3. Jurisdiction (Powers) of the High Court

TypeMeaning
Originalhears some cases directly (e.g. high-value civil suits; enforcement of Fundamental Rights by writs)
Appellatehears appeals in civil and criminal cases from subordinate courts
Writcan issue the five writs to protect rights within the state
Supervisory / controlsuperintends and controls all subordinate courts in the state
Court of Recordjudgements are precedents; can punish for contempt

4. Subordinate (Lower) Courts

Below the High Court, at the district level:
CourtDeals withHead
District Courtcivil casesDistrict Judge
Sessions Courtcriminal casesSessions Judge
- The same judge is often both District & Sessions Judge.
  • Below them: Civil Judges/Munsifs (civil) and Magistrates (criminal) handle smaller cases; Revenue courts deal with land matters.
  • Appeals go upward: lower court โ†’ District/Sessions Court โ†’ High Court โ†’ Supreme Court.

5. Lok Adalat (People's Court)

A forum for quick, cheap, amicable settlement of disputes (especially compoundable/petty and pending cases); its award is binding and reduces the burden on regular courts.

6. Worked / Structured Examples (ICSE pattern)

Q1. Who heads a High Court? Solution: The Chief Justice of that High Court. Q2. State the qualifications to be a High Court judge. Solution: Citizen with 10 years' judicial office OR 10 years as a HC advocate. Q3. Which court at the district level handles criminal cases? Solution: The Sessions Court. Q4. Name the supervisory power of the High Court. Solution: It superintends and controls all subordinate courts in the state. Q5. What is a Lok Adalat? Solution: A people's court for quick, inexpensive, amicable settlement of disputes.

7. Key Terms โ€” Quick Glossary

TermOne-line definition
High Courtthe highest court of a state.
District Courttop civil court of a district.
Sessions Courttop criminal court of a district.
Magistratejudge handling minor criminal cases.
Writcourt order protecting a right.
Supervisory jurisdictionHigh Court's control over lower courts.
Court of Recordcourt whose judgements are precedents.
Lok Adalatpeople's court for speedy settlement.

8. Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Confusing the District Court (civil) with the Sessions Court (criminal).
  • Saying High Court judges retire at 65 โ€” that's the Supreme Court; HC is 62.
  • Forgetting the High Court's supervisory power over subordinate courts.
  • Mixing up the appeal order (lower โ†’ District/Sessions โ†’ High Court โ†’ Supreme Court).
  • Thinking Lok Adalats handle major criminal trials โ€” they settle petty/compoundable matters.

9. Likely Exam Questions (with crisp answers)

  1. What is the highest court of a state? โ†’ The High Court.
  2. Who fixes the number of High Court judges? โ†’ The President.
  3. State the qualifications for a High Court judge. โ†’ Citizen; 10 years judicial office or 10 years HC advocate.
  4. At what age do High Court judges retire? โ†’ 62 years.
  5. Name the jurisdictions of the High Court. โ†’ Original, appellate, writ and supervisory.
  6. Which court hears civil cases at the district level? โ†’ The District Court.
  7. Which court hears criminal cases at the district level? โ†’ The Sessions Court.
  8. What is the High Court's supervisory power? โ†’ Control/superintendence over all subordinate courts.
  9. Give the order of appeal from a district to the apex court. โ†’ District/Sessions Court โ†’ High Court โ†’ Supreme Court.
  10. What is a Lok Adalat and its benefit? โ†’ A people's court giving quick, cheap settlements, easing court burden.
  11. How are High Court judges removed? โ†’ By impeachment for proved misbehaviour/incapacity.
  12. Name the magistrate-level courts. โ†’ Magistrates' courts for minor criminal cases.
  13. Which writ-issuing power do High Courts share with the Supreme Court? โ†’ The power to issue writs for Fundamental Rights.
  14. Why are subordinate courts important? โ†’ They settle the bulk of everyday civil and criminal cases.

10. The Court Hierarchy (top to bottom)

LevelCourt
NationalSupreme Court
StateHigh Court
DistrictDistrict Court (civil) / Sessions Court (criminal)
Below districtCivil Judges/Munsifs; Magistrates; Revenue courts
Appeals travel upward through these levels.

11. Civil vs Criminal Courts

Civil courtsCriminal courts
disputes over property, money, contractsoffences/crimes against the law
District Judge โ†’ Civil Judges/MunsifsSessions Judge โ†’ Magistrates
give compensation/reliefaward punishment (fine/imprisonment)

12. Why a Subordinate Judiciary Is Needed

Most ordinary disputes are settled in local lower courts, making justice accessible and affordable, while the High Court and Supreme Court handle appeals and constitutional questions.

13. More Worked / Structured Examples

Q6. A property dispute is filed โ€” which court hears it first? Solution: The civil court (Civil Judge/District Court) at the district level. Q7. A murder case is tried in which court? Solution: The Sessions Court (criminal). Q8. Why is the High Court called a Court of Record? Solution: Its judgements are preserved as binding precedents and it can punish contempt. Q9. What benefit does a Lok Adalat offer over a regular court? Solution: Faster, cheaper and amicable settlement, reducing case backlog.

14. More Exam Questions (with crisp answers)

  1. Name the head of the district civil judiciary. โ†’ The District Judge.
  2. Name the head of the district criminal judiciary. โ†’ The Sessions Judge.
  3. Which courts handle minor criminal cases? โ†’ Magistrates' courts.
  4. Name the court for land/revenue matters. โ†’ Revenue courts.
  5. State two jurisdictions of the High Court. โ†’ Appellate and writ (also original, supervisory).
  6. Which court controls the subordinate courts of a state? โ†’ The High Court.
  7. Give the retirement age of High Court judges. โ†’ 62 years.
  8. Define appellate jurisdiction. โ†’ The power to hear appeals from lower courts.
  9. Which body settles petty disputes amicably and quickly? โ†’ A Lok Adalat.
  10. Name the citizen requirement for a High Court judge. โ†’ Must be a citizen of India.

15. Final Quick-Revision Q&A

  1. Which is the highest court in a state? โ†’ The High Court.
  2. Who appoints High Court judges? โ†’ The President.
  3. Name the top civil and criminal courts of a district. โ†’ District Court and Sessions Court.
  4. Which court issues writs within a state? โ†’ The High Court.
  5. Define a Court of Record. โ†’ A court whose decisions are precedents and which can punish contempt.
  6. Name the order of appeal above the High Court. โ†’ The Supreme Court.
  7. State one feature of an independent judiciary. โ†’ Security of tenure for judges.
  8. Which court superintends district courts? โ†’ The High Court.
  9. Name a forum for speedy, cheap justice. โ†’ Lok Adalat.
  10. State the retirement ages of SC and HC judges. โ†’ 65 (SC) and 62 (HC).
  11. Which courts deal with land disputes? โ†’ Revenue courts.
  12. Name the lowest civil judges. โ†’ Munsifs/Civil Judges.
  13. Who hears appeals from the Sessions Court? โ†’ The High Court.
  14. Define jurisdiction. โ†’ The legal authority of a court to hear and decide cases.
  15. State one purpose of subordinate courts. โ†’ To settle everyday civil and criminal cases locally.
  16. Name the writ jurisdiction shared with the Supreme Court. โ†’ Enforcement of Fundamental Rights via writs.
  17. Which judge is often both District and Sessions Judge? โ†’ The principal district judge.
  18. Why is local justice important? โ†’ It makes courts accessible and affordable to ordinary people.
  19. Name the administrative head of a High Court. โ†’ The Chief Justice of the High Court.
  20. Differentiate civil and criminal cases. โ†’ Civil = private disputes (compensation); criminal = offences against the law (punishment).
  21. Which court is between the District Court and the Supreme Court? โ†’ The High Court.
  22. State one power that keeps lower courts in check. โ†’ The High Court supervisory/control jurisdiction.
  23. Define precedent. โ†’ A previous judgement that guides decisions in similar future cases.
  24. Name two courts below the High Court. โ†’ District/Sessions courts and Magistrates courts.
  25. Which court has the final appeal in the country? โ†’ The Supreme Court.
  26. Summarise the state judiciary in one line. โ†’ A High Court atop each state oversees subordinate civil and criminal courts, with appeals rising to the Supreme Court.
  27. Which court tries the most serious criminal cases in a district? โ†’ The Sessions Court.
  28. Name the citizen and experience criteria for a HC judge together. โ†’ An Indian citizen with 10 years as a judicial officer or HC advocate.