The High Courts and Subordinate Courts are part of the integrated judicial system. With reference to the statement, answer the following questions:
(i) Mention three cases which fall under the Original Jurisdiction of the High Court.
(ii) Who appoints the High Court Judges? Mention any two qualifications required for a person to be appointed as a High Court Judge.
(iii) Lok Adalat brings justice to the doorstep of the common.
Justify this statement with any four points.
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(i) Original Jurisdiction means the power to hear and decide cases at the first instance. Three such cases before a High Court are:
- Matters relating to State revenue and its collection.
- Cases regarding wills, divorce, marriage, company law and contempt of court, which may be brought before the High Court directly.
- Election petitions challenging the election of Members of Parliament, of a State Legislative Assembly or of other local bodies.
(ii) The Judges of a High Court are appointed by the President of India. The Chief Justice of a High Court is appointed in consultation with the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and the Governor of the concerned State.
Two qualifications required for appointment as a Judge of a High Court are:
- He/She should be a citizen of India and should not be over 62 years of age.
- He/She should have held a judicial office in the territory of India for at least ten years, or should have been an advocate of a High Court for at least ten years.
(iii) Lok Adalat means 'People's Court'. It is an alternative dispute redressal mechanism where cases pending in a court of law, or at the pre-litigation stage, are settled amicably. It brings justice to the doorstep of the common man in the following ways:
- Spirit of compromise — Lok Adalats settle family feuds, disputes between neighbours and minor cases of assault and injury through compromise and understanding, so that both the parties feel satisfied.
- Speedy and inexpensive justice — There is no court fee. Any person can move a Lok Adalat by an application on plain paper and expect quick justice.
- Relief to other courts — They reduce the workload of the regular courts, enabling them to deal with more serious matters, and thus reduce delays in the higher courts.
- Social justice — They provide legal aid and quick justice to the weaker sections of society who cannot afford the delay or the cost involved in ordinary court procedures. Mobile Lok Adalats travel from one place to another to resolve petty cases and spread legal awareness.