NCERT Solutions Class 8 Civics Chapter 4 Understanding Laws (Free PDF)

Social science subject holds a prominent role in the Class 8 syllabus. In the NCERT syllabus, Chapter 4 of Class 8 Understanding Laws is a very important topic for students preparing for their school exams or competitive exams as well. This chapter elaborates on knowledge from arbitrary laws to laws made by the Indian constitution. Let’s get a clear picture of the chapter of Class 8 Understanding Laws and the important notes and information that you must prepare for your exams.

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Download Social Science Class 8 Civics Chapter 4 Important Questions and Answers PDF

Important Definitions in NCERT Class 8 Chapter 4

• Colonialism: It is a practice or policy of control by one people or power over other people or areas, often by establishing and generally with the aim of economic dominance.
• Sedition Act 1850: The government is allowed to detain any person who is witnessed protesting against the British government without giving them a fair trial. 
• Domestic violence: It generally refers to the injury or harm or threat of injury or harm caused by an adult male, usually the husband, against his wife. Injury may be caused by physically beating up the woman or by emotionally abusing her. 

Important Short Notes in NCERT Class 8 Chapter 4

Indian Law

Indian law refers to the Republic of India’s legal system, which includes a wide range of statutes, regulations, and court precedents. Indian law covers several parts of society, including civil, criminal, constitutional, and commercial affairs, and is based on a combination of English common law, Hindu traditions, and legislative enactments. The Indian Constitution is the top legal constitution, detailing citizens’ fundamental rights and duties. The legal system of India attempts to promote justice, equality, and the rule of law, with a complex hierarchy of courts and a strong legal profession contributing to its operation and progress.

Do Laws Apply to All? 

Rule of law was certainly introduced in the colonial period under the British Government in India. Those laws were arbitrary and hence cannot be exercised in Independent India. So, all the citizens are equal before the law.

• The laws cannot discriminate on the basis of a person’s religion, gender, caste, or colour. 
• Any criminal act or violation of law is punishable as well as through which the guild of the individual has to be established. 
• All laws are applicable to everyone and no one is above the law.

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How is the Rule of Law Established in India? 

As discussed above, British colonialists introduced laws which were arbitrary and that is the reason they were disputed by historians on this basis: 

• Colonial laws were arbitrary.
• Indian nationalists were prominent in the development of the legal sphere in British India. 
• Nationalists had an idea to change the set of rules they were forced to follow by considering ideas of justice. 
• By the end of the 19th century, legal professionals and Indian judges started playing a greater role in making the changes. 
• After Independence, the constitution was successful in forming a new set of rules, and accordingly, sons, daughters, and their mothers can get an equal share of family property. Similarly, new laws have been enacted to control pollution and provide employment.

How Do New Laws Come About?

The Parliament has an important role in making laws. Different society groups also played their role that raised their need for a particular law. An important role of Parliament is to be sensitive to the problems faced by people. The issue of domestic violence was brought to the attention of the Parliament and the process adopted for this issue to become law. Domestic Violence Act 2005 was also implemented by the constitution for the protection of women from being abused and injured by males. 

Unpopular and Controversial Laws 

• The laws passed by the constitution sometimes turn out to be unaccepted by the general public because they feel that the intention behind them is unfair and harmful.
• People tend to criticize laws, hold public meetings, write about them in the newspaper, report to TV news channels, etc.
• Sometimes the laws are valid and legal and still a large number of people begin to find it wrong, then the pressure gets created on Parliament to change. 
• Individuals who find laws to be unfair can reach out to the court. 
• If the law favours one group and disregards the other, it will be controversial and lead to conflict. 

Important Questions and Answers in NCERT Class 8 Chapter 4 Understanding Laws

Q.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.

Ans: The rule of law is a provision of the Indian Constitution that states that all people in independent India are equal before the law. Every law is equal for every citizen in the country. Neither the President nor any other high official is above the law. The punishment for any crime committed will be the same for every person, irrespective of their post or power. For example, if a clerk is punished for corruption, the same punishment needs to be given to a higher official or Minister for committing the same crime of corruption.

Q.2 State two reasons why historians refute the claim that the British introduced the rule of law in India.

Ans: Two reasons why historians refute to claim that the British introduced the rule of law in India are

1. The colonial law was arbitrary.
2. The Indian Nationalists played a prominent role in the development of the legal sphere in British India.

Q.3 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.

Ans: The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005 was passed to protect women against any kind of violence, be it physical or verbal. Various women’s groups worked to make this happen by reporting multiple cases of domestic violence. A group of lawyers, law students and activists worked together to draft the Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection Bill). Other than this, various women’s organisations, including the National Commission for Women, made submissions to the Parliamentary Standing Committee. All these actions taken by women together made the Government pass the bill against domestic violence.

Q.4 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 the law, including ideas of justice.

Ans: India before independence was forced to follow the rules set by the British Government. The set of rules was arbitrary and not authorised by the Indian Nationalists. Hence, the freedom struggle against the Britishers also aimed at making a set of rules that were fair and just for all and were not just imposed on the Indians to follow. The Indian Nationalists began to fight for their rights and wanted a set of rules that were equal for all.

Explore CBSE Civics Class 7 Notes

Chapter 1- Equality in Indian Democracy

Chapter 2- State Government

Chapter 3- How the State Government Works

Chapter 4- Gender

Chapter 5- Women Change the World

Chapter 6- Media

Chapter 7- Markets

Chapter 8- A Shirt in the Market

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