Class 8 Civics Chapter 6 Understanding Our Criminal Justice System Extra Questions

Class 8 Civics Chapter 6 Understanding Our Criminal Justice System Extra Questions and Answers are provided here. These Extra Questions with solution are prepared by our team of expert teachers who are teaching in CBSE schools for years. Extra questions for Class 8 Civics Chapter 6 will help you to properly understand a particular concept of the chapter.

Understanding Our Criminal Justice System Class 8 Civics Extra Questions and Answers

Short Answer Type Questions

1. Who has the legal right to get a free copy of the FIR from the police?

Answer: The complainant also has a legal right to get a free copy of the FIR from the police.

2. When does the role of the prosecutor begin?

Answer: The role of the prosecutor begins once the police has conducted the investigation and filed the charge sheet in the court.

3. When does the police begin their investigations into a crime?

Answer: It is with the registration of an FIR that the police can begin their investigation into a crime.

4. What has been mentioned in the D.K. Basu guidelines about the friend and relative of the person arrested, detained or being interrogated?

Answer: The person arrested, detained or being interrogated has a right to inform a relative, friend or well-wisher.

5. Mention the four key players in the criminal justice system?

Answer: The four key players in the criminal justice system are the police, the Public Prosecutor, the defence lawyer and the judge.

6. Mention any one of the Fundamental Rights that Article 22 of the Constitution guarantees to every arrested person.

Answer: The Right not to be ill-treated or tortured during arrest or in custody.

7. What does the rule of law say?

Answer: The rule of law says that everyone is equal before the law. The words will not make much sense if every citizen were not guaranteed a fair trial by the Constitution.

8. What was the final verdict in Shanti’s case?

Answer: In Shanti’s case, justice was finally done to her because she was given a fair trial.

9. By which part of justice system it is decided whether the accused person is guilty or not?

Answer: It is court of law that decides whether the accused person is guilty or not.

10. How many key players are in the criminal justice system?

Answer: There are 4 key players.

11. What are 4 key players in the criminal justice system?

Answer: The 4 key players are:

  1. The police
  2. The public prosecutor
  3. The defence lawyer
  4. The judge

12. What is one of the important function of police?

Answer: One important function of the police is to investigate any complaint about the commission of a crime.

13. Mention any one Fundamental Right guaranteed in Article 22 and criminal law to every arrested person.

Answer: The Right to be presented before a magistrate within 24 hrs of custody.

14. Name the guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court of India which had to be followed while the process of arrest, detention interrogation of any person?

Answer: D.K. Basu guidelines.

15. On whose behalf does the prosecution must conduct the prosecution?

Answer: On behalf of the state.

16. Where does the judge conducts the trial?

Answer: The judge conduct the trial impartially and in an open court.

17. What does Accused means?

Answer: This refers to the person who is tried by a court for a crime.

18. Define the term ‘offence’.

Answer: It means that any act which is defined as crime by the law.

Long Answer Type Questions

1. Who is a public prosecutor?

Answer: A public prosecutor is an official who puts people on trial on behalf of the government and people of a particular country.

2. What do you understand by the term “Criminal Justice System”?

Answer: Criminal Justice System is the system of law enforcement that is directly involved in apprehending, prosecuting, defending, sentencing, and punishing those who are suspected or convicted of criminal offenses.

3. What are the guidelines that the police have to follow during investigation?

Answer: The Supreme Court has laid down guidelines that the police must follow at the time of arrest, detention and interrogation. The police are not allowed to torture or beat or shoot anyone during investigation. They cannot inflict any form of punishment on a person even for petty offences.

4. What is the role of the police in investigating a crime?

Answer: One important function of the police is to investigate any complaint about the commission of a crime. An investigation includes recording statements of witnesses and collecting different kinds of evidence. On the basis of the investigation, the police are required to form an opinion. If the police think that the evidence points to the guilt of the accused person, then they file a charge sheet in the court.

5. State two reasons why you believe that different persons need to play different roles as part of the criminal justice system.

Answer: Different persons need to play different roles as part of the criminal justice system because:

  • A single person cannot have all the qualification required to perform different functions such as arresting, defending, collecting evidences, and giving final judgment.
  • To avoid the misuse of power and unfairness in the results.

6. What is the role of the Public Prosecutor?
Or
Write a note on Public Prosecutor.

Answer: In court, it is the Public Prosecutor who represents the interests of the State. The role of the Prosecutor begins once the police has conducted the investigation and filed the chargesheet in the court. He/she has no role to play in the investigation. The Prosecutor must conduct the prosecution on behalf of the State. As an officer of the court, it is his/ her duty to act impartially and present the full and material facts, witnesses and evidence before the court to enable the court to decide the case.

7. What is the role of judge in Criminal Justice System?

Answer: The judge is like an umpire in a game and conducts the trial impartially and in an open court. The judge hears all the witnesses and any other evidence presented by the prosecution and the defence. The judge decides whether the accused person is guilty or innocent on the basis of the evidence presented and in accordance with the law. If the accused is convicted, then the judge pronounces the sentence. He may send the person to jail or impose a fine or both, depending on what the law prescribes.

8. Write a brief note on the criminal procedure in the Criminal Justice System in India.

Answer: A crime is first reported by the victim to the Police and the police file a FIR or First Information Report. Then the police begin the investigation and arrest the suspected person or persons. The police then file a charge sheet in the Magistrate’s Court. The trial begins in court. The Public Prosecutor represents the victim and the accused can defend themselves with the help of lawyer. Once the trial is over the accused is either convicted or acquitted. If convicted, the accused can appeal to the higher court.

9. What are the procedures that have to be followed if the criminal trial has to be a fair trial?

Answer: Procedures to be followed are:

  • A copy of the chargesheet and all other evidence that the prosecution presented has to be given to the accused.
  • The trial has to be held in an open court, in public view and in the presence of the accused.
  • The accused has to be given a lawyer to defend himself in case he cannot afford to employ a lawyer.
  • The prosecution has to prove beyond reasonable doubt of guilty of the accused.
  • The judge decides the matter only on the basis of the evidence before the court.

10. What is a FIR? Explain.
Or
Write a short note on FIR.

Answer: FIR stands for First Information Report. It is with the registration of an FIR that the police can begin their investigations into a crime. The law states that it is compulsory for an officer in charge of a police station to register an FIR whenever a person gives information about a cognizable offence. This information can be given to the police either orally or in writing. The FIR usually mentions the date, time and place of the offence, details the basic facts of the offence, including a description of the events. If known, the identity of the accused persons and witnesses is also mentioned. The FIR also states the name and address of the complainant. There is a prescribed form in which the police registers an FIR and it is signed by the complainant. The complainant also has a legal right to get a free copy of the FIR from the police.

11. What are D.K Basu Guidelines?

Answer: The Supreme Court of India has laid down specific requirements and procedures that the police and other agencies have to follow for the arrest, detention and interrogation of any person. These are known as the D.K. Basu Guidelines and some of these include:

  • The police officials who carry out the arrest or interrogation should wear clear, accurate and visible identification and name tags with their designations;
  • A memo of arrest should be prepared at the time of arrest and should include the time and date of arrest. It should also be attested by at least one witness who could include a family member of the person arrested. The arrest memo should be counter-signed by the person arrested.
  • The person arrested, detained or being interrogated has a right to inform a relative, friend or wellwisher.
  • When a friend or relative lives outside the district, the time, place of arrest and venue of custody must be notified by police within 8 to 12 hours after arrest.

12. Explain the following terms: accused, cognizable, cross-examine, detention, impartial, Offence and witness

Answer: Accused: In the context of this chapter this refers to the person who is tried by a court for a crime.

Cognizable: In the context of this chapter this refers to an offence for which the police may arrest a person without the permission of the court.

Cross-examine: In the context of this chapter this refers to the questioning of a witness who has already been examined by the opposing side in order to determine the veracity of his/her testimony.

Detention: In the context of this chapter this refers to the act of being kept in illegal custody by the police.

Impartial: The act of being fair or just and not favouring one side over another.

Offence: Any act that the law defines as a crime.

To be charged of a crime: This refers to the trial judge informing the accused, in writing, of the offence for which he/she will face trial.

Witness: In the context of this chapter this refers to the person who is called upon in court to provide a first-hand account of what he/she has seen, heard or knows.