KSEEB Solutions for Class 8 Civics Chapter 4 Understanding Laws Textbook Questions
Question 1. Write in your own words what you understand by the term the ‘rule of law’. In your response, include a fictitious or real example of a violation of the rule of law.
Answer.
- The Rule of law means that law is supreme and not the arbitrary will of any individual. Nobody is above the law. As long as an individual obeys law and does not violate it, he cannot be punished.
- The Rule of law also means that everybody is equal before the law. All individuals are equal in the eyes of the law. No person is exempted from the jurisdiction of law.
- Rich-poor, educated and illiterate, powerful and weak, all are equal before the law. Any person who violates the law is punished according to the law. R.K. Sharma, I.G. Haryana was involved in a murder case and he was punished by the court.
Question2 State two reasons why historians refute the claim that the British introduced the rule of law in India.
Answer
- The Rule of law is the distinctive feature of the Indian Constitution. Generally, it is believed that it was the British government that introduced the rule of law- in India. But it is not true. Historians have rejected this claim on several grounds.
- Firstly, British Colonial rule was arbitrary. British officials exercised their powers arbitrarily and they were not held responsible under the law. Sedtion Act of 1870 was a part of the British law.
- Secondly, Indian nationalists played a very important role in the development of the rule of law during the British government. The Indian nationalists strongly criticised the arbitrary use of authority by the British officials. Moreover, they demanded equality with the Britishers.
- By the end of the 19th century many Indians entered legal profession and they demanded respect for the rule of law and justice
Kseeb Class 8 Civics Chapter 4 Understanding Laws Solutions Pdf
Question3. Re-read the storyboard on how a new law on domestic violence got passed. Describe in your own words the different ways in which women’s groups worked to make this happen.
Answer.
- Domestic violence is a serious problem and it affects the rights and dignity of women. Women are generally beaten up by their husbands, by their fathers and even brothers and sons.
- Women are illtreated by their sons and daughter-in-law. Women’s organisation were demanding protection against being beaten, the right to continue living in a shared household and often temporary relief.
- In 1999 Lawyers Collective, a group of lawyers, law students and activists, after nation-wide consultations took the lead in drafting the Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Bill. Ultimately the Bill was introduced in the Parliament in 2002.
- But this bill was opposed by the women’s organisation because the Bill was not effective to check domestic violence. The Bill was sent to the Parliamentary Standing Committee. Several women’s organisations such as National Commission for Women made submission to the Parliamentary Standing Committee.
- It submitted its recommendations to the Parliament. The committee’s repots accepted most of the demands of the women’s groups. A new bill was introduced in Parliament in 2005. The Bill was passed by the Parliament and after the assent of the President, it became an act. The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act came into effect in 2006.
Question4. Write in your own words, what you understand by the following sentence on pages 44-45. They also began fighting for greater equality and wanted to change the idea of law from a set of rules that they were forced to obey, to law as including ideas of justice.
Answer.
- No doubt the Rule of Law was a unique feature of British Constitution. But in India during the British rule, colonial rule was arbitrary and there was no equality before law.
- During the end of the 19th century, Indian Nationalists started the protest against the arbitrariness of British officials and demanded supremacy of law.
- They demanded that Indians should be treated equal with the Britishers and same law should be applied to both. They demanded not only equality’ but justice also. Indian lawyers started using law to defend the legal rights to the India
Sslc Class 8 Civics Understanding Laws Question And Answers
Understanding Laws Text Questions
Question1. State one reason why you think the Sedition Act of 1870 was arbitrary? In what ways does the Sedition Act of 1870 contradict the rule of law?
Answer The Sedition Act 1870 was arbitrary as the Rowlatt Act allowed the British government to imprison people without due trial. Indian nationalists including Mahatma Gandhi were vehement in their opposition to the Rowlatt bills. Despite the large number of protests, the Rowlatt Act came into effect on 10 March 1919.
Question2. (a) What do you understand by ‘domestic violence’? List the two rights that the new law helped achieve for women who are survivors of violence.
Answer (a) Domestic violence refers to the injury or harm or threat of injure or harm caused by an adult male, usually the husband, against his wife. Injury may be caused by physically- beating up the woman or economically abusing her. The abuse of the woman can also include verbal, sexual and economical abuse.
Two rights that the new law helped achieve for women are:
(1)The right of woman to live in a shared household.
(2)Women can get monetary relief to meet their expenses, including medical costs.
Kseeb Class 8 Civics Understanding Laws Textbook Solutions
Question3. Read the newspapers/watch news on TV for a week and find out if there are any unpopular laws that people in India or around the world are currently protesting.
Answer. In 2008, the Supreme Court declared certain residential as well as commercial areas of Delhi unauthorised. The government officials started the work of sealing and demolishing unauthorised buildings. There were protests, Dharnas and rallies against the Delhi administration.
Understanding Laws Very Short Answer Type Questions
Question1. What is Rule of Law?
Answer. Rule of Law means law is supreme and not the arbitrary will of any individual.
Question 2. Who introduced the Rule of Law in India?
Answer. The Indian Constitution introduced the Rule of Law in India.
Question 3. Write one exception to Rule of law.
Answer. Foreign rulers and ambassadors are not subject to the jurisdiction of the law of India.
Question4. Who is the law making body in India?
Answer. Parliament is the law making body in India.
Question5. When the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act came into effect?
Answer. This Act came into effect in 2006.
Understanding Laws Class 8 Civics Kseeb Important Questions
Question 6. What do you know about Hindu Succession Amendment Act, 2005?
Answer. According to Hindu Succession Amendment Act 2005, sons, daughters and their mothers are entitled to equal share of family property.
Question7. What do you understand by the Civil Rights Act, 1964 (U.S.A.)?
Answer. This Act prohibited discrimination on the basis of race, religion or national origin in USA.
Question 8. List the three forms of protest that you see in your life.
Answer.
- Hunger strike (Fast)
- Dhama or Ralley
- Jail Bharo Andolon.
Karnataka Sslc Class 8 Civics Chapter 4 Solutions In English
Understanding Laws Short Answer Type Questions
Question 1. What should be done by citizens if laws are unpopular and controversial?
Answer.
- The Parliament is the law-making body in India. But the citizens must oppose such laws which are unpopular and controversial. In India, citizens are free to oppose repressive laws, which are framed by the Parliament People should protest against those laws that are not in the interests of the citizens.
- For example, women’s organisation and groups opposed the Domestic Violence Bill, 2002 because this bill did not have those clauses that the women’s organisation were suggesting. Ultimately new bill was introduced in 2005 and passed by the Parliament.
- Thus, when there is opposition to a wrong and unpopular law, there is pressure on the Parliament to change that law. Indian Nationalists criticised the repressive and arbitrary laws, which were started by the British.
Question2. What do you understand by Equality before Law?
Answer.
- Equality before law means that everyone is equal before law and no person is exempt from the jurisdiction of law.
- It means equal subjection of all classes to ordinary law of the land as enforced by the ordinary courts of law. Rich and poor, educated and illiterate, powerful and weak all are equal before law.
- In India, the law cannot discriminate between persons on the basis of their caste, religion, gender, class, ideology, etc.
Understanding Laws Long Answer Type Questions
Question1. Explain briefly the exceptions of Rule of Law in India.
Answer. There are certain exceptions of the Rule of Law. Today, all persons are not equal in the eyes of law and legal procedure is not the same for all. Following are the exceptions to the rule of law.
(1)Foreign Rulers and Ambassadors are not subject to the jurisdiction of the law of India.
(2)No criminal case can be started against the President and the Governor of the state.
(3)Judges of all courts are exempted from all legal proceedings on the basis of their judicial actions.
(4)Ministers and Members of Parliament and State Legislatures enjoy certain privileges and immunities, which are not enjoyed by ordinary citizens.
(5)Government Officials enjoy special protection under the law.
(6)Special privileges for scheduled caste and scheduled tribes.
(7)The Constitution provides special protection to women and children.
Kseeb Class 8 Civics Understanding Laws Solved Exercises
Question2. Explain briefly those provisions of the Indian Constitution that established the Rule of Law in India.
Answer. Rule of Law is a salient feature of the Constitution of India. It is inherent in several provisions of the Constitution.
(1) Preamble: The objectives of the Preamble is Liberty, Equality, Fraternity and Justice. The spirit behind these objectives is Rule of Law.
(2) Right to Equality: Right to Equality is the basis of democracy and rule of law. The Constitution of India.
(3)Equality before Law: All citizens are equal before the law and nobody is above the law of the land.
(4)Equal Protection of Law: The Constitution provides equal protection of law.
(5)Abolition of Untouchability: Untouchabilty is abolished under the Constitution.
(6)The state shall ensure equality before the law of ever)’ one and there should be equal protection of the laws within the territory of India.
Class 8 Civics Understanding Laws Notes Karnataka Board
Understanding Laws Hots Corner
Question State two reasons why historians refute the claim that the British introduced the rule of law in India.
Answer.
- Rule of law is the distinctive feature of the Indian Constitution. Generally, it is believed that it was the British government that introduced the rule of law in India. But it is not true. Historians have rejected this claim on several grounds.
- Firstly, British Colonial rule was arbitrary. British officials exercised their powers arbitrarily and they were not held responsible under the law. Section Act of 1870 was a part of the
- British law. Secondly, Indian nationalists played a very important role in the development of rule of law during the British government.
- Indian nationalists strongly criticised the arbitrary use of authority by the Brit sh officials. Moreover, they demanded equality with the Britishers. By the end of the 19th century, many Indians entered legal profession and demanded respect for the rule of law’ and justice.
Understanding Laws Miscellaneous Questions Multiple Choice Questions
Tick the correct option from the choices provided:
Question 1. Hindu Succession Amendment Act was passed in:
(a) 1960
(b) 2005
(c)1980
(d)2007
Answer (b) 2005
Question 2. Rule of Law means.
(a) Law is Supreme
(b) Everybody is equal before the law
(c) Absence of arbitrary power
(d) All the above
Answer. (d) All the above
Understanding Laws Class 8 Civics Summary And Explanation Kseeb
Question 3. Which of the following is an example of British arbitrariness?
(a) Sedition Act of 1870
(b) Arms Act
(c) Rowlatt Act
(d) All the above
Answer. (d) All the above
Question 4. In which year Domestic Violence Act was passed?
(b) 2008
(a) 2004
(c) 2007
(d) 2005
Answer. (d) 2005
Understanding Laws Picture Interpretation
Look at the following picture and answer the questions that follow:
Sslc Class 8 Civics Chapter 4 Workbook Answers
1. Identify the lady shown in the picture.
Answer Rosa Parks
2. Describe the incident which involved her.
Answer Rosa Parks was an African-American woman, refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white man on I December 1955.
3. What was the impact of this incident?
Answer Rosa Park’s refusal was a key event that marked the start of the Civil Rights Movement, which led to the Civil Rights Act in 1964, which prohibited discrimination on the basis of race, religion or national origin in the USA.