1. WHAT IS JUDICARY?
   1. Dispute Resolution
      1. provides mechanism for resolving disputes
   2. Judicial Review
      1. has the power to strike down particular laws by the Parliament
         1. if the judiciary thinks it is a violation against the Constitution
   3. Every citizen can approach the courts
      1. if they believe that their Fundamental Rights have been violated
   4. Article 21 provides Fundamental Right to Life
2. INDEPENDENT JUDICIARY
   1. Indian Constitution protects partiality of the judiciary
      1. by providing for the independence of Judiciary
   2. Legislature and Executive cannot interfere in the work of Judiciary
   3. Courts are not under the government
      1. do not act on their behalf
   4. The Judges are appointed with little interference
      1. from the other branches of Government
   5. If a judge is appointed, it is difficult to remove him/her
   6. Independence of Judiciary allows courts to paly a central role
      1. ensuring there is no misuse of power by Legislative and Executive
   7. plays crucial role in protecting Fundamental Rights
3. STRUCTURE OF COURTS
   1. Three levels of courts
      1. Lower level
      2. District or Tehsil Level
         1. district or subordinate courts
            1. most people interact with courts at this level
      3. Apex Level
         1. The Supreme Court
            1. presided by the Chief Justice of India
            2. decisions made are binding on all other courts
   2. Highest court of a state
      1. The High Court
   3. State is divided into districts
      1. presided by District Judge
   4. All the different levels are connected
      1. India has an integrated Judicial system
   5. Appellate system
      1. a person can appeal at a higher court
         1. if the judgement passed by a lower court is not just
4. BRANCHES OF LEGAL SYSTEM
   1. Criminal Law
      1. deals with acts that the law defines as offences
      2. begins with the lodging of an FIR
      3. if found guilty, the person can be sent to jail and fined
   2. Civil Law
      1. deals with harm to rights of individuals
      2. a petition has to be filed before the court by the affected party
      3. court gives the specific relief asked for
5. ACCESS TO COURTS
   1. all citizens can access the courts
      1. every citizen has right to justice
   2. accessability to courts has been difficult for a vast majority
   3. The Supreme Court in 1980s
      1. devised a mechanism of Public Interest Mitigation(PIL)
         1. to increase access to the courts
   4. person's access to justice takes a long period of time
      1. oftenly called 'justice delayed is justice denied'
   5. The members of the Constituent Assembly had quite correctly envisioned a system of courts
      1. with an independent judiciary as a key feature