Types of Jurisdiction
The term “jurisdiction” refers to a court’s authority to hear cases and petitions. Following mentioned are the types of jurisdiction:
1. Territorial Jurisdiction: Refers to the geographic area over which a court has authority to hear and decide cases. It determines whether a court is legally permitted to handle a case based on where the events occurred or where the parties reside.
2. Pecuniary Jurisdiction: Sets the monetary limits within which a court can handle claims for money. It ensures that cases involving specific amounts are heard by the appropriate court, often preventing overcrowding of higher courts with smaller financial disputes.
3. Original Jurisdiction: Grants a court the authority to hear and decide a case for the first time. This means the court has the power to examine evidence, hear testimony, and make a final decision without needing a prior ruling from another court.
4. Appellate Jurisdiction: Empowers a court to review decisions made by lower courts. Instead of re-examining the facts of the case, appellate courts assess whether legal errors were made during the trial process or if the lower court’s decision was based on incorrect interpretations of law.
5. Subject Matter Jurisdiction: Defines the types of cases a court is authorized to hear based on the subject matter involved. It ensures that cases are heard by courts with the appropriate expertise and authority, such as criminal law matters being heard by criminal courts and family law matters by family courts.
Civil Court Structure: Terminologies and Types
Property disputes, contract violations, financial transaction transgressions, small omissions, and other disputes fall under the category of civil wrongs and are handled through civil procedure. In these situations, the parties who have been wronged should file civil lawsuits. Law courts dispense justice by taking the nature of the wrongdoing into account. In civil courts, wrongs are corrected by awarding injunctions, compensating the harmed party, or paying damages.
Key Takeaways
- Trial courts are usually at the bottom of a hierarchical system that includes appellate courts above them and sometimes a supreme court at the absolute top for civil courts. Decisions from subordinate courts may be appealed to higher courts under this system.
- Courts have limitations on the types of cases they can hear and the geographical area they cover. There are three main jurisdictions: territorial jurisdiction, subject matter jurisdiction, and pecuniary jurisdiction.
- All people should have access to civil courts. This might entail tools to aid individuals in understanding the legal system, getting legal counsel, and navigating the court system.
- The outcome of a civil case typically settles the parties’ disagreements. This ruling might entail splitting property, prescribing particular activities, or giving monetary damages.
Table of Content
- Common Legal Terminologies used in Civil Court
- Types of Jurisdiction
- Res Sub Judice and Res Judicata in Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
- Conclusion
- The Civil Court Structure- FAQs