Social & Political Life (Civics) • Topic 4 of 4

Parliament, Judiciary & Social Justice

At the national level, laws are made by Parliament, which has two houses. The Lok Sabha (House of the People) is the lower house, whose members are directly elected by the people; the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) is the upper house, representing the states, with members mostly elected by state legislatures. A proposed law is introduced as a Bill, and after being passed by both houses and signed by the President it becomes an Act (law). The judiciary — the system of courts — interprets the laws and settles disputes; it has three levels: the Supreme Court at the top (the highest court), the High Courts at the state level, and the subordinate or district courts below. The judiciary is independent of the government so that it can protect citizens' rights and deliver impartial justice; the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) lets ordinary people seek justice for the public good. The media — newspapers, television, radio and the internet — informs citizens and acts as a watchdog on those in power, but must report in a balanced way. Finally, social justice means ensuring that marginalised groups — such as Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, religious minorities, women and the poor — are protected from discrimination and given equal opportunities, which the Constitution secures through equality, reservation and special safeguards.

✅ Solved examples

1. Which house of the Indian Parliament is the lower house and is directly elected by the people?
The Lok Sabha (House of the People). The Rajya Sabha (Council of States) is the upper house, representing the states.
2. A draft of a proposed law placed before Parliament is called a Bill. What does it become after it is passed and approved?
It becomes an Act (a law) — once passed by both houses of Parliament and given assent by the President.
3. Name the highest court in India and the level of court just below it at the state level.
The Supreme Court is the highest court; the High Court is the court at the state level, with district (subordinate) courts below it.
4. Groups such as Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and religious minorities, who have historically faced discrimination, are described as:
Marginalised groups. The Constitution provides them safeguards, equality and reservations to ensure social justice.

✏️ Practice — try these, take hints as needed

1. The upper house of the Indian Parliament, which represents the states, is the:
Also called the Council of States.
Members are mostly elected by state legislatures.
Rajya Sabha
2. The branch of government that interprets laws and settles disputes through courts is the:
Headed by the Supreme Court.
Independent of the government.
The judiciary
3. Newspapers, television and the internet, which inform citizens and act as a watchdog on the powerful, are together called the:
Sometimes called the fourth pillar of democracy.
Should report in a balanced way.
The media
4. A case filed by any citizen in the public interest, even for those who cannot approach the court themselves, is known as a:
Three-letter abbreviation.
Helps the poor and marginalised seek justice.
PIL (Public Interest Litigation)

📝 Topic test — 8 questions

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