Gujarat Board GSEB Solutions Class 8 Social Science Chapter 4 The Supreme Court Textbook Exercise Important Questions and Answers, Notes Pdf.
Gujarat Board Textbook Solutions Class 8 Social Science Chapter 4 The Supreme Court
GSEB Class 8 Social Science The Supreme Court Textbook Questions and Answers
1. Answer the following questions :
Question 1.
Narmada Yojana is an important multipurpose project. It possibly does not violate fundamental rights of any individual. Why was this judgement given by the Supreme Court? Discuss.
Answer:
Narmada is the longest river of the states of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. To control the destructive floods that hit it and to utilize the abundant amount of water, a multipurpose project known as ‘Sardar Sarovar Yojana’ has been built on it at Navagam in Gujarat. This is a joint venture of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan States. The Narmada Project is very important for the development of all four states.
A protest was made against increasing the height of Narmada Dam (located near Navagam) above 110 metres. Environmentalist organisations and NGOs from Madhya Pradesh were fighting for the rights of tribal people who would lose their land and habitat forever due to this project.
On March 8, 2006, the Supreme Court passed a judgement to resolve the conflict between the two states. The judgement was in favour of Gujarat State. The Court stated that due to rising population, it was necessary to carry out this project. The possibility of positive development and benefits to living beings due to the Sardar Sarovar Yojana could not be ignored. Arid regions of Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh would get water and the expansion of the desert could be controlled. The Supreme Court ordered proper rehabilitation of the tribal people affected by the Yojana but did not stop it. Thus the fundamental rights of the tribal people were protected and the Yojana also went ahead.
Question 2.
Why should the Judiciary be independent?
Answer:
Should the judges be under anyone’s influence or if they Eire controlled by any influential or powerful people, they will not be able to give impartial judgements. Therefore, our Constitution does not allow any such interference. Consequently, the Judiciary is independent of the Legislature and the Executive Body.
Question 3.
Why is the ‘Public Interest Litigation’ considered to be an important step?
Answer:
Any citizen can approach a court with his or her complaint. However, it is very difficult for poor people who are illiterate and have to earn their living on a daily basis to go to court and demand justice. It is difficult for them to protect their fundamental rights as they have no money to fight out their cases in courts. The process of justice is not only time consuming but very costly too. A lot of legal documentation is also part of the process. As a result, it is very difficult for the poor to approach the judiciary and demand justice.
Keeping this fact in mind, the Supreme Court announced the provision of the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in 1980. The Judiciary tries to reach out and give justice to as many people as it can with this system. The Judiciary has given the right to any person or institution to file a case on behalf of people from deprived classes. If any fundamental rights are being violated, then a citizen can appeal straight to the High Court or the Supreme Court.
For example :
- PIL was filed to free labourers from inhuman labour and
- to release prisoners who were not released from the jail in Bihar even after they had served their term.
Question 4.
State the various judgements given by different courts in the case of Ratlam Municipality.
Answer:
The various judgements given by different courts in the case of Ratlam Municipality are as follows :
Verdict by the Taluka Court: The Municipality and Town Improvement Trust have failed in their duty of maintaining cleanliness. Both the institutions are ordered to cleanse the place with immediate effect. The work of a closed drainage should be completed within 15 days. However, the Municipality challenged this verdict in the Ratlam District Court.
The following is the ruling of the District Court:
- The judgement of the Taluka Court is hereby declared unfair.
- This verdict was challenged by the residents. They went to the High Court.
- The High Court sustained the judgement of the Taluka Court but added the some words to it.
The following is the verdict of the High Court:
- For a closed drainage system, 7 months’ time is given instead of 15 days. The pits should be filled with soil to stop water accumulation and mosquito breeding. The work should be completed within two years.
- The Ratlam Municipality being unhappy with the verdict appealed to the Supreme Court.
However, the Supreme Court sustained the judgement of the Taluka Court and further ordered that:
The chemical and dye plants which were responsible for the pollution should be closed with the joint effort of the Municipality and the state government.
Read the following statements in reference to Ratlam Municipality case. Put a tick mark [ ✓ ] for the correct and a cross mark [ x ] for an incorrect statement. Correct and rewrite the incorrect statements.
(1) Municipality took the case to the District Court as it was dissatisfied with the decision given by the lower court. [ ✓ ]
(2) Municipality appealed to the High Court against the judgement given by the Supreme Court. [ x ]
Corrected Statement: Municipality appealed to the Supreme Court against the judgement given by the High Court.
(3) The Supreme Court approved the judgement given by the High Court. [ X ]
Activities
Question 1.
Collect the cuttings of judgements published in newspapers and fill the table given below:
Question 2.
Fill the table given below with the judgements published in different newspapers.
| Case | Judgment |
| (1) Dispute between Centre and State | |
| (2) Dispute between two States | |
| (3) Dispute between two citizens | |
| (4) Dispute between a person and the government | |
| (5) Dispute between a person and an institution |
3. With the help of your teacher, arrange a mock court procedure from the Taluka Court to the Supreme Court in the classroom.
GSEB Class 8 Social Science The Supreme Court Intext Questions and Answers
Question 1.
Can an ordinary citizen win a case over a powerful/influential person in this judicial system? Justify your response.
Answer:
Yes, an ordinary citizen can win a case over a powerful/influential person in this judicial system. Our Constitution does not allow any interference in the functioning of the Judiciary. Our Constitution has declared that The Judiciary is independent of the Legislature and the Executive Body. The judges are not under any influence or control of powerful people, and so they are able to give impartial judgements. Therefore, any person, rich or poor can definitely get proper justice.
Additional
GSEB Class 8 Social Science The Supreme Court Additional Important Questions and Answers
Fill in the blanks with proper words or numbers in the following statements:
Question 1.
Our Constitution has kept the ……………….. independent of the Legislature and the Executive Body.
Answer:
Judiciary
Question 2.
The Supreme Court of India is in ………………………. .
Answer:
Delhi
Question 3.
The ………………………… Court is the highest among all courts of our country.
Answer:
Supreme
Question 4.
The Supreme Court of our country came into existence on 28th January,……………… .
Answer:
1950
Question 5.
The …………………. Court has the right to protect the fundamental rights of citizens.
Answer:
Supreme
Question 6.
The ……………………… Court resolves disputes between citizens and the government, between states and between the centre and any state.
Answer:
Supreme
Question 7.
A Dam has been constructed on the River Narmada at ……………………… in Gujarat.
Answer:
Navagam
Question 8.
According to the verdict of the Supreme Court in the Narmada Project Case, the …………… rights of the tribal people living in that area would not be threatened.
Answer:
fundamental
Question 9.
Any citizen can approach a court for the protection of his/her …………………. rights.
Answer:
fundamental
Question 10.
The Supreme Court announced the provision of the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in ………………………. .
Answer:
1980
State whether the following statements are true or false:
Question 1.
The Judiciary is necessary for the safety and welfare of people.
Answer:
False
Question 2.
The Judiciary is one of the most important organs of the government.
Answer:
True
Question 3.
The High Court is the highest among all courts of our country.
Answer:
False
Question 4.
The Supreme Court of India is in Ahmedabad.
Answer:
False
Question 5.
Irrigation will be possible in the states of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan with the Sardar Sarovar Yojana.
Answer:
True
Question 6.
Our Constitution has kept the Judiciary independent of the Legislature and the Executive Body.
Answer:
True
Answer the following questions in one or two sentences:
Question 1.
Why is law necessary in a country?
Answer:
Law is necessary in a country for the safety and welfare of its people.
Question 2.
In our country, what type of judiciary is in place for imparting justice?
Answer:
In our country, a hierarchy of courts is in place to impart justice. It starts with the lowest court known as the Taluka Court, which is succeeded by the District Court, then comes the High Court and finally the Supreme Court or the Highest Court of the country. Our judiciary is a continuous and well-knit process.
Question 3.
Which court of our country holds the highest position among all courts?
Answer:
The Supreme Court of our country holds the highest position among all courts in our country.
Question 4.
When did the Supreme Court come into existence in our country?
Answer:
The Supreme Court of our country came into existence on 28th January 1950.
Question 5.
Which disputes does the Supreme Court resolve?
Answer:
The Supreme Court resolves disputes between citizens and the government, between states and between the centre and any state.
Question 6.
Who protested against the height of Narmada Dam increasing above 110 metres?
Answer:
Environmentalist organisations and NGOs from Madhya Pradesh were fighting for the rights of tribal people protested against increasing the height of Narmada Dam (located near Navagam) above 110 metres. They wanted to protect the rights of tribal people who would lose their land and habitat forever due to this project.
Question 7.
In whose favour did the Supreme Court pass judgement about the height of the dam in the Narmada Project Case?
Answer:
On March 8, 2006, the Supreme Court passed a judgement to resolve the conflict between the two states concerning the Narmada Project Case about the height of the dam. The judgement was in favour of Gujarat State.
Question 8.
What will happen if judges can be controlled or influenced?
Answer:
Should the judges be under anyone’s influence or if they are controlled by any influential or powerful people, they will not be able to give impartial judgements.
Question 9.
What is the Judiciary of our country independent of?
Answer:
The Judiciary of our country is independent of the Legislature and the Executive Body.
Question 10.
Who safeguards the fundamental rights of citizens?
Answer:
High Courts and the Supreme Court protect the fundamental rights of citizens.
Question 11.
What provision has the Supreme Court made to ensure that the poor also get justice?
Answer:
To ensure that the poor also get justice, the Supreme Court announced the provision of the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in 1980.
Question 12.
Why is it difficult for the poor to go to court?
Answer:
It is very difficult for poor people to go to court and demand justice because they are illiterate and have to earn their living on a daily basis.
Question 13.
State two examples wherein justice was imparted through the PIL system.
Answer:
Two examples wherein justice was imparted through the PIL system Eire:
- PIL was filed to free labourers from inhuman labour and
- to release prisoners who were not released from the jail in Bihar even after they had served their term.
Question 14.
When can the Judiciary itself pass a judgement in favour of the people?
Answer:
If the Supreme Court feels that the fundamental rights of any one group of society are being threatened, it can take an interest in the case and pass a judgement in favour of the people.
Question 15.
Should a PIL regarding fundamental rights and/ or their implementation be inappropriate what can the High Court or the Supreme Court do?
Answer:
Should the High Court or Supreme Court find any PIL regarding fundamental rights and/or their implementation inappropriate, then it may punish the person/group/institution concerned.
Answer the following questions in short:
Question 1.
How can we say that the Judiciary of our ‘ country is continuous and well-knit?
Answer:
In our country, a hierarchy of courts is in place to impart justice. It starts with the lowest court known as the Taluka Court, which is succeeded by the District – Court, then comes the High Court and finally the Supreme Court or the Highest Court of the country.
This hierarchy of courts is known as the Judiciary. The Judiciary is one of the most important organs of the government and so we can say that it is a well-knit and continuous process.