CIVIL LAW AND

CRIMINAL LAW
By: Ms Manan Dardi
Email id: manan.dardi@vips.edu
Civil law

• Civil law codifies a set of rules that deal with the behaviour of any
individual or organization that can cause injury to any private party or
individual.

• Examples of Civil Law are defamation like libel and slander, breach of
contract, negligence resulting in injury or death, and property damage.
Criminal law

• Criminal law talks about the behaviour that can be construed as

offensive to the public, society or the land (whose law it is).

• Examples can include theft, druken driving, murder, assault etc.

Difference between Criminal Law and Civil Law:

Criminal Law Civil Law

Criminal Law deals with offences that are committed Civil Law is a general law. It solves disputes between 2
against the society. organisations or individuals.
The punishment of the offence would be as per the To settle the dispute, a compensation is provided to the
seriousness of the criminal offence committed. Also, a aggrieved party in civil law cases. No such punishment
fine could be imposed. is given in such cases.
In the case of Criminal law it the Government of India Civil Law to exist needs the aggrieved individual or
that needs to file the petition. organisation.
Criminal law punishes the convicts, protects the citizens and The objective of Civil Law is to protect the rights of an
ensures law and order in the land. individual or organisation. It needs to ensure the wrongs done
to be rectified against the sufferer.

The petition cannot be filed directly in a court but a complaint The aggrieved party can file a case in a tribunal or a court
must be first registered with the police and its investigation
needs to be carried out. Thereafter a case can be filed in the
court.

The accused is prosecuted in the court of law The victim or aggrieved party can sue those who offended it

In these cases the court is empowered charge a fine, imprison The court in such cases can only pass judgement to
the guilty of a crime, or discharge the defendant. compensate for damage done to the aggrieved party.

Here, the defendant is considered either guilty or not guilty by The defendant here is considered to be either liable or not
the court. liable.

Criminal law deals with specific serious crimes like murder, Civil Law deals with Property, Money, Housing, Divorce,
rape, robbery etc. custody of a child in the event of divorce etc.
THANK YOU