Grade - 8

th
(2014-15)
Civics, Chapter 4
Understanding Laws
Q1 !rite in "#$r #wn w#rds what "#$ $nderstand %" the ter& 'r$(e #) (aw* with an
e+a&p(e #) a vi#(ati#n #) the r$(e #) (aw
Ans.) 1. The rule of law means that all laws apply equally to all citizens of the country and no
one can be above the law.
2.The law cannot discriminate between persons on the basis of their religion, caste or gender.
. !either a government official, nor a wealthy person nor even the president of the country is
above the law.
". Any crime or violation of law has a specific punishment as well as a process through which
the guilt of the person has to be established.
#. $f a government official helps his son go into hiding because his son has been given a ten%year
&ail sentence by a district court for a crime that he has committed. This is an e'ample of the
violation of law.
Q2) ,tate tw# reas#ns wh" hist#rians re)$te the c(ai& that the -ritish intr#d$ced the r$(e
#) (aw in .ndia/
Ans.) (istorians have disputed this claim on several grounds, two of which include)
1 *olonial law was arbitrary
2 The $ndian !ationalists played a prominent role in the development of the legal sphere in
+ritish $ndia.
0 ,ne e'ample of the arbitrariness that continued to e'ist as part of +ritish law is the
-edition Act of 1./0 under which any person protesting or criticizing the +ritish
government could be arrested without due trial.
Q0) !hat are $np#p$(ar and c#ntr#versia( (aws and what r#(e d# pe#p(e p(a" in changing
these (aws/
Ans.)i) -ometimes a law can be constitutionally valid and hence legal, but it can continue to be
unpopular and unacceptable to people because they feel that the intention behind it is unfair and
harmful.
ii) (ence, people might criticize this law, hold public meetings, write about it in newspapers,
report to T1 news channels etc.
iii) $n a democratic country li2e $ndia, citizens can e'press their unwillingness to accept
repressive laws framed by the parliament.
iv) 3hen a large number of people begin to feel that a wrong law has been passed, then there is
pressure on the 4arliament to change this.
Q4) !hat d# "#$ $nderstand %" 12#&estic vi#(ence1/ List the tw# rights that the new (aw
he(ped achieve )#r w#&en wh# are s$rviv#rs #) vi#(ence
Ans.) i) 5omestic violence refers to the in&ury or harm or threat of in&ury or harm caused by an
adult male, usually the husband, against his wife.
ii) $n&ury may be caused by physically beating up the woman or by emotionally abusing her.
iii) The two rights that the new law i.e. 6 The protection of women from domestic violence Act7
helped achieve for women who are survivors of violence are)
a) The right of women to live in a shared household and women can get a protection order
against any further violence.
b) 3omen can get monetary relief to meet their e'penses including medical costs.
Q5) 3#w d# new (aws c#&e a%#$t/
Ans.) i) The 4arliament has an important role in ma2ing laws. There are may ways through
which this ta2es place and it is often different groups in society that raise the need for a particular
law.
ii) The role of citizens is crucial in helping 4arliament frame different concerns that people might
have into laws.
iii)8rom establishing the need for a new law to its being passed , at every stage of the process,
the voice of the citizen is a crucial element.
iv) This voice can be heard through T1 reports, newspaper editorials, radio broadcasts, local
meetings 9 all of which help in ma2ing the wor2 that 4arliament does more accessible and
transparent to the people.
Q 4) !hat he(ps 5ar(ia&ent per)#r& its representative )$ncti#ns pr#per("/
Ans.) $t is the e'tent, involvement and enthusiasm of the people that helps 4arliament perform its
representative functions properly.