Legal Studies

The syllabus of Legal Studies can help the students in understanding the course curriculum and type of questions asked. Below is the compiled Legal Studies curriculum for the academic year 2022-23 as per the latest CBSE notification mentioned.  

Unit I: Introduction to Political Institutions

• Concept of State 
  • What is a State? 
  • What is a Government? 
  • The concept of State and Article 12 of the Indian Constitution 
  • Emergence of the State from Society 
  • Definition of State 
• Forms and organs of Government 
  • Introduction to the Organs of Government
  • Forms of Government
    • Monarchy
    • Dictatorship
    • Aristocracy
    • Democracy
  • Main organs of Government and their functions
    • General Functions of Executive as Organ of Government
    • General Functions of Legislature as Organ of Government
    • General Functions of Judiciary as an Organ of the Government
• Separation of powers 
  • Concept of Separation of Powers
  • Historical Background and Evolution of Montesquieu’s Doctrine of Separation of Powers 
    • Impact of the Doctrine
    • Montesquieu’s Doctrine of Separation of Powers
    • Basic Features of the Doctrine of separation of powers as Enunciated by Montesquieu
    • Checks and Balances of Power
  • Evaluation of The Doctrine of Separation of Powers
    • Defects of the Doctrine
    • Key Benefits and Advantages of The Doctrine of Separation of Powers
  • Separation of Powers In Practice
    • Separation of Powers in Britain
    • Separation of Powers in India
    • Separation of Powers in the United States of America

Unit 2: Basic Features of The Constitution of India 

• Salient Features of The Constitution of India 
  • Definition of the term Constitution
  • Meaning of the term Constitution
  • Historical Perspective of the Indian Constitution
  • Salient Features of The Constitution of India 
    • Modern Constitution
    • Lengthiest written Constitution
    • Fundamental Rights; Directive Principles of State Policy; Fundamental Duties
    • The preamble to the Constitution
    • Constitutional Provision for Amendment of the Indian Constitution
    • Adult Suffrage
    • Independent Judiciary
    • Single Citizenship
    • Emergency Provisions
    • Federal in form Unitary in character
    • Schedules to the Constitution
    • Division of Power- center-state Relations

Unit 3: Jurisprudence, Nature and Sources of Laws

• Classification of laws 
  • Classification of Law based on Scope of Law
  • Classification of Law based on Subject matter
  • Classification of Law based on Jurisdiction 
• Source of law 
  • Where does law come from?
  • Importance of Custom as a source of Law in India
  • Custom as a Source of Law
  • Judicial Precedent as a Source of Law
  • Legislation as a Source of Law
• Law reform 
  • Need for Law Reform
  • Recent Law Reforms in Independent India
  • Law Reforms in India
• Cyber Laws, Safety and Security in India
  • Introduction
  • Why do we need Cyber Laws
  • What are Cybersafety and Security?
  • What is cybercrime?
  • What is Cyber Law?
  • Categories of Cyber Crime
  • Cyberlaw in India
  • What was Section 66A of the IT Act, 2000? 
  • Scope and Extent of The Information and Technology Act, 2000 (IT Act)

Unit 4: Judiciary: Constitutional, civil and criminal courts and processes 

• Judiciary: Constitutional, Civil and Criminal Courts and Processes 
  • Introduction: Establishment of the Supreme Court and High Courts
  • Constitution, roles and impartiality 
    • Structure and Hierarchy of the Courts in India
    • Independence and Impartiality of the Supreme Court
    • The civil process and functioning of Civil courts
  • The civil court strcuture 
    • Types of jurisdiction
    • Common legal terminology
    • Res subjudice and Res judicata in code of civil procedure 1908
  • Structure and functioning of criminal courts in India 
    • Types of offenses
    • The criminal process- Investigation and prosecution
    • Criminal investigation and First Information Report
    • Doctrine of autrefois acquit and autrefois convict
  • Other courts in India 
    • Family Courts
    • Administrative Tribunals 

Unit 5: Family Justice System

• Institutional Framework; Marriage and Divorce 
  • Nature of Family law in India
  • Institutional framework- family Courts
  • Human rights and gender perspective
  • Role of women in the creation of family courts
  • Marriage and Divorce 
  • Role of lawyers and counselors in Family courts
  • Role of counselors and gender issues
• Prevention of Violence against Women
  • International legal framework
  • What is Domestic abuse/violence?
  • Laws in India on the prevention of violence against women