In this blog, let us learn about the criminal justice system. The court of the Sessions Judge is the highest court in the district for criminal cases. Serious criminal cases are tried by the court of the Sessions Judge or the Additional Sessions judge. Lower courts to the Sessions court are headed by an Assistant Sessions Judge, Chief Judicial Magistrate, and Chief Metropolitan Magistrate and Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Metropolitan Magistrate and Magistrate First Class, Magistrate Second Class and Special Judicial Magistrate and Executive Magistrate.

The Sessions Judge can award a death sentence confirmed by the High Court. The Chief Judicial Magistrate can award a sentence of up to seven years of imprisonment. A Magistrate First Class can award a maximum sentence of up to three years of imprisonment, or a fine, or both. A Magistrate Second Class can award a maximum sentence of up to two years of imprisonment, or fine, or both. The amount of fine depends on the crime as well as the powers of a Judge. Let us dive into the Criminal Justice System.

Functions

The district administration performs several functions. The main ones are listed here.
� Maintaining law and order.
� Maintenance of land records and collection of revenues.
� Providing civic amenities and monitoring development.
� Supervising activities of the Panchayati Raj.
� Providing relief work.

Maintaining Law and order

This is the most important responsibility of the District Collector. The rest of his performance is rated according to his success in this task. The person is given a lot of power in this regard. The District Collector can pass orders to check lawlessness and rioting.

Officers and their working

The Superintendent of Police and all police officers work under the District Collector. Their main aim is to ensure peace in the district. Deputy Superintendent of Police, Inspectors, Sub-Inspectors, Head Constables, and Constables are all responsible for maintaining law and order in areas under their charge. A District is divided into five or six sub-divisions, each under the charge of a Deputy Superintendent of Police.

There are about ten police stations or thanas, which are under the charge of an Inspector of police. Sub-Inspectors, Assistant Sub-Inspectors, Head Constables, and Constables work in each police station. The police appoint chaukidars in the village. They are supposed to help police to detect crime and arrest offenders. There is a jail in each district. The jailer is the official in charge. The Deputy Jailer assists him or her.

Men and women are kept in separate prisons. Criminals are taught skills like carpentry, carpet weaving, etc so that they can change their ways and become good citizens.

Police are meant to protect us and secure our rights as citizens. But it is also our duty to help them in their work. We can do this by passing on information about law-breakers to the police and not assisting illegal activities.

Read More:Subordinate Courts: Types Of Lower Courts- The Judiciary, Class 8 Notes