The Judiciary Class 9 – Concept, MCQ’s & Notes PDF

Topic covered: The Judiciary class 9 notes and MCQs Questions: Working Of Institutions (All single detail notes are exam-oriented).

We have discussed in-depth and exam-oriented pointers that can be asked in the board exam of class 9th about the “The Judiciary“ from the NCERT Political Science (Civics) notes for class 9th chapter 4 Working Of Institutions.

Download the NCERT Political Science (Civics) for Class 9th Chapter 4 Working Of Institutions Notes PDF

Chapter 4: Working of Institutions in Class 9 Political Science helps you understand how the Indian government actually functions. It explains the roles of the President, Prime Minister, and Parliament in simple terms, using real-life examples like how decisions are made in a democracy. Many students find it tricky to remember how these institutions balance power, so these notes break it down step by step. You’ll also get clarity on topics like judicial independence and cabinet responsibility. Download the NCERT Political Science (Civics) for Class 9th Chapter 4 Working of Institutions Notes PDF to make your revision smoother and faster.

The Judiciary

1. Importance of Judiciary:

• A fair and independent judiciary is essential for democracy.
• The judiciary ensures that government actions follow the law.
• The story of the Office Memorandum shows how the Supreme Court’s verdict resolved the issue peacefully.
• Without an independent Supreme Court, justice and fairness would be impossible.

2. Definition of Judiciary:

• All the courts at different levels in a country together are called the Judiciary.
• The Indian judiciary includes:
  • Supreme Court (national level)
  • High Courts (state level)
  • District and local courts

3. Integrated Judiciary:

• India has an integrated judiciary, meaning the Supreme Court controls the judicial administration across the country.
• Decisions of the Supreme Court are binding on all other courts.

4. Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court:

• The Supreme Court can take up disputes:
  1. Between citizens of India
  2. Between citizens and the government
  3. Between two or more state governments
  4. Between the Union and state governments

5. Highest Court of Appeal:

• The Supreme Court is the highest court of appeal in civil and criminal cases.
• It can hear appeals against High Court decisions.

6. Independence of the Judiciary:

• Judiciary is independent of the legislature and executive.
• Judges do not act on government directions or the ruling party’s wishes.
• All modern democracies, including India, have independent courts.

7. Appointment of Judges:

• Judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts are appointed by the President.
• The President acts on the advice of the Prime Minister and in consultation with the Chief Justice of India (CJI).
• In practice, senior judges of the Supreme Court select new judges (known as the collegium system).
• There is minimal political interference in appointments.

8. Chief Justice of India:

• The senior-most judge of the Supreme Court is usually appointed as the Chief Justice of India.

9. Tenure and Removal of Judges:

• Once appointed, judges cannot be easily removed.
• Removal requires an impeachment motion passed by two-thirds of both Houses of Parliament separately.
• No judge has ever been removed in India’s history.

10. Powers of Judiciary:

• Indian judiciary is among the most powerful in the world.
• The Supreme Court and High Courts can interpret the Constitution.
• They can declare laws or executive actions invalid if they violate the Constitution.

11. Judicial Review:

• The power of the judiciary to check the Constitutional validity of laws or executive actions is called Judicial Review.
• The Supreme Court has ruled that the basic structure of the Constitution cannot be changed by Parliament.

12. Guardian of Fundamental Rights:

• Judiciary acts as the guardian of Fundamental Rights.
• Citizens can approach the courts if their rights are violated.

13. Public Interest Litigation (PIL):

• Any person can approach courts if public interest is harmed by government action.
• This is known as Public Interest Litigation (PIL).
• Courts use PILs to protect public interest and human rights.

14. Role in Democracy:

• Courts prevent misuse of government power and malpractices by public officials.
• Judiciary enjoys high public trust because of its fairness and independence.

Key Terms and Definitions

• Coalition government: A government formed by an alliance of two or more political parties, usually when no single party enjoys majority support of the members in a legislature.
• Executive: A body of persons having authority to initiate major policies, make decisions and implement them on the basis of the Constitution and laws of the country.
• Government: A set of institutions that have the power to make, implement and interpret laws so as to ensure an orderly life. In its broad sense, government administers and supervises over citizens and resources of a country.
• Judiciary: An institution empowered to administer justice and provide a mechanism for the resolution of legal disputes. All the courts in the country are collectively referred to as judiciary.
• Legislature: An assembly of people’s representatives with the power to enact laws for a country. In addition to enacting laws, legislatures have authority to raise taxes and adopt the budget and other money bills.
• Office Memorandum: A communication issued by an appropriate authority stating the policy or decision of the government.
• Political Institution: A set of procedures for regulating the conduct of government and political life in the country.
• Reservations: A policy that declares some positions in government employment and educational institutions ‘reserved’ for people and communities who have been discriminated against, are disadvantaged and backward.
• State: Political association occupying a definite territory, having an organised government and possessing power to make domestic and foreign policies. Governments may change, but the state continues. In common speech, the terms country, nation and state are used as synonyms.

Next & Previous Topics of NCERT/CBSE Political Science (Civics) Class 9 Chapter 4: Working Of Institutions

MCQs on NCERT Political Science (Civics) Class 9 Chapter 4 Topic – The Judiciary Class 9 Notes

Here are the top exam-oriented MCQ-type questions on “The Judiciary Class 9 Notes” that you should prepare for your CBSE or state board exams:

Question 1. Why was the Office Memorandum story resolved successfully?

a) Because Parliament intervened
b) Because the Supreme Court gave a fair verdict accepted by all
c) Because the President cancelled the decision
d) Because the Prime Minister withdrew it

Answer: b) Because the Supreme Court gave a fair verdict accepted by all

Question 2. What would happen if there were no Supreme Court in the country?

a) Laws would be easily framed
b) There would be no final authority to settle disputes
c) The President would take judicial decisions
d) High Courts would automatically merge

Answer: b) There would be no final authority to settle disputes

Question 3. Why is an independent and powerful judiciary essential in a democracy?

a) To control the army
b) To protect citizens’ rights and ensure fairness
c) To make laws
d) To supervise elections

Answer: b) To protect citizens’ rights and ensure fairness

Question 4. What do we call all the courts at different levels in a country collectively?

a) Legislature
b) Executive
c) Judiciary
d) Tribunal

Answer: c) Judiciary

Question 5. Which of the following forms the highest judicial authority in India?

a) High Court
b) District Court
c) Supreme Court
d) Sessions Court

Answer: c) Supreme Court

Question 6. The Indian judiciary has which type of structure?

a) Federal judiciary
b) Integrated judiciary
c) Dual judiciary
d) Separate judiciary

Answer: b) Integrated judiciary

Question 7. What does an integrated judiciary mean?

a) The High Courts control the Supreme Court
b) The Supreme Court controls the entire judicial administration
c) Each state has its own independent judiciary
d) Judiciary and executive work together

Answer: b) The Supreme Court controls the entire judicial administration

Question 8. Which of the following disputes can the Supreme Court take up?

a) Between citizens only
b) Between citizens and government
c) Between states
d) All of the above

Answer: d) All of the above

Question 9. The Supreme Court is the highest court of appeal in —

a) Only civil cases
b) Only criminal cases
c) Both civil and criminal cases
d) Election cases only

Answer: c) Both civil and criminal cases

Question 10. Independence of the judiciary means —

a) Judges are under control of Parliament
b) Judiciary is free from control of legislature and executive
c) Judges are elected by people
d) Judiciary follows government directions

Answer: b) Judiciary is free from control of legislature and executive

Question 11. Why is independence of the judiciary necessary?

a) To ensure fair and unbiased justice
b) To help the executive in governance
c) To reduce number of courts
d) To increase political power

Answer: a) To ensure fair and unbiased justice

Question 12. Who appoints the judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts?

a) Prime Minister alone
b) Parliament
c) President on the advice of the Prime Minister and in consultation with the Chief Justice of India
d) Chief Justice of India alone

Answer: c) President on the advice of the Prime Minister and in consultation with the Chief Justice of India

Question 13. In practice, who selects new judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts?

a) Parliament
b) President personally
c) Senior judges of the Supreme Court
d) Prime Minister alone

Answer: c) Senior judges of the Supreme Court

Question 14. Who is usually appointed the Chief Justice of India?

a) Any judge chosen by President
b) Senior-most judge of the Supreme Court
c) A retired Governor
d) A Member of Parliament

Answer: b) Senior-most judge of the Supreme Court

Question 15. What ensures that judges remain independent of political pressure?

a) Easy removal process
b) Fixed tenure and difficult removal procedure
c) Control by executive
d) Elections every five years

Answer: b) Fixed tenure and difficult removal procedure

Question 16. How can a judge of the Supreme Court or High Court be removed?

a) On the order of the President alone
b) By the Prime Minister’s decision
c) Through an impeachment motion passed by two-thirds of both Houses of Parliament
d) By the Chief Justice’s recommendation

Answer: c) Through an impeachment motion passed by two-thirds of both Houses of Parliament

Question 17. Has any judge of the Supreme Court ever been removed by impeachment in India?

a) Yes, many times
b) Once
c) Never
d) Twice

Answer: c) Never

Question 18. Which body has the power to interpret the Constitution of India?

a) Parliament
b) Supreme Court and High Courts
c) Election Commission
d) Comptroller and Auditor General

Answer: b) Supreme Court and High Courts

Question 19. What can courts do if any law or executive action violates the Constitution?

a) Recommend its change
b) Declare it invalid
c) Send it to the Prime Minister
d) Approve it with conditions

Answer: b) Declare it invalid

Question 20. The power of the judiciary to examine the constitutional validity of laws and actions is called —

a) Judicial power
b) Judicial review
c) Judicial reform
d) Judicial authority

Answer: b) Judicial review

Question 21. What did the Supreme Court rule about the basic principles of the Constitution?

a) Parliament can change them anytime
b) They cannot be changed by Parliament
c) Only President can amend them
d) They can be modified by courts

Answer: b) They cannot be changed by Parliament

Question 22. The judiciary acts as the guardian of —

a) Parliament
b) Fundamental Rights
c) Directive Principles
d) Political Parties

Answer: b) Fundamental Rights

Question 23. What is the right of citizens to approach courts for protection of their rights called?

a) Right to Vote
b) Right to Petition
c) Right to Constitutional Remedies
d) Right to Information

Answer: c) Right to Constitutional Remedies

Question 24. When can anyone approach the courts if public interest is hurt by government actions?

a) Private lawsuit
b) Public Interest Litigation (PIL)
c) Judicial review
d) Civil appeal

Answer: b) Public Interest Litigation (PIL)

Question 25. What is the main purpose of Public Interest Litigation?

a) To protect private property
b) To defend government decisions
c) To protect public interest and human rights
d) To elect judges

Answer: c) To protect public interest and human rights

Question 26. What does the judiciary do when it checks misuse of power by officials?

a) Performs legislative functions
b) Exercises judicial review and ensures accountability
c) Assists the Prime Minister
d) Changes laws

Answer: b) Exercises judicial review and ensures accountability

Question 27. Why does the judiciary enjoy a high level of confidence among the people?

a) Because it is controlled by the government
b) Because of its independence and fairness in protecting citizens’ rights
c) Because judges are elected directly by citizens
d) Because it makes laws

Answer: b) Because of its independence and fairness in protecting citizens’ rights