(9)An Overview of the Judicial System in India: Exploring the Different Types of Courts and Their Functions

In India, the judicial system is structured into several levels and types of courts, each serving specific functions. Here’s an overview of the main types of courts in India:

1. Supreme Court of India

   - The apex court and the highest judicial authority in the country. It has both original and appellate jurisdiction and can hear appeals from High Courts and other lower courts.

2. High Courts

   - There are 25 High Courts in India, serving as the highest judicial bodies at the state and union territory levels. They have original jurisdiction in some matters and appellate jurisdiction over lower courts in their respective states or territories.

3. District Courts

   - These are subordinate courts under the High Courts and exist in each district of the state. They handle both civil and criminal cases at the district level. They are typically divided into:

     - **Civil Courts**: Handling civil matters.

     - **Sessions Courts**: Handling criminal cases.

4. Subordinate Courts (Lower Courts)

   - **Civil Courts (Subordinate Judge/Junior Civil Judge/Munsif Courts)**: 

Handle civil matters at the lower levels.

   - **Criminal Courts (Chief Judicial Magistrate/Metropolitan Magistrate Courts)**: 

Handle criminal cases at the lower levels.

5. Family Courts

   - These specialized courts handle family-related disputes like marriage, divorce, and child custody. Family Courts are present in many districts across the country.

6. Consumer Courts

   - These are specialized courts that handle consumer disputes. They are structured at three levels:

     - **District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions** (District level)

     - **State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions** (State level)

     - **National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission** (National level)

7. Labour Courts

   - These courts deal with labor disputes, including industrial relations and workers' rights. Labour Courts exist in many states and are part of the Industrial Disputes Act framework.

8. Revenue Courts

   - These are specialized courts dealing with land revenue matters, land disputes, and related issues. They are present in many states and are structured under different names, like **Tehsildar** and **Collector** courts.

9. Tribunals

   - **Administrative Tribunals**: Deal with disputes related to the public service.

   - **Tax Tribunals**: Handle tax-related disputes.

   - **National Green Tribunal (NGT)**:

Deals with environmental issues.

   - **Armed Forces Tribunal**: Handles disputes related to military personnel.

   - **Company Law Tribunal**: Deals with corporate law matters.

   - **Debt Recovery Tribunal**: Handles cases related to debt recovery.

10. Lok Adalats (People's Courts)

   - These are informal courts organized to settle disputes through conciliation and compromise. They are part of the Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism.

11. Special Courts

   - **Anti-Corruption Courts**

   - **NDPS Courts** (for Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances cases)

   - **Special CBI Courts**: Handle cases investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation.

   - **PMLA Courts** (under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act)

12. Juvenile Justice Boards

   - These are specialized courts that handle cases involving minors, typically under the Juvenile Justice Act.

13. Military Courts

   - These are court-martials that deal with cases involving military personnel and matters related to military law.

This structure ensures a comprehensive legal system that can address various types of disputes and legal matters across India.

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