What is civil law and criminal law?

Civil law and criminal law are two major branches of law, but they serve very different purposes. Understanding the distinction helps in knowing how legal systems handle disputes and wrongdoing. ### Civil Law - Definition: Civil law deals with disputes between individuals, organizations, or both. - Purpose: To resolve disagreements and provide compensation rather than punishment. - Examples: Property disputes, breach of contract, divorce cases, landlord-tenant issues, consumer complaints. - Outcome: Usually results in one party paying damages or fulfilling an obligation. No one goes to jail in civil cases (unless they disobey court orders). ### Criminal Law - Definition: Criminal law deals with offenses against the state or society as a whole, even if the victim is an individual. - Purpose: To maintain law and order by punishing offenders. - Examples: Theft, murder, assault, fraud, drug trafficking. - Outcome: If found guilty, the accused may face imprisonment, fines, or even capital punishment depending on the severity of the crime. Key difference: Civil law focuses on rights and responsibilities between individuals, while criminal law focuses on offenses against society. For instance: - If someone damages your property, you can file a civil case to recover costs. - If someone commits theft, it becomes a criminal case where the state prosecutes the offender. For a more detailed explanation, you can check this overview from Legal Service India. In summary: Civil law is about resolving disputes and compensating victims, whereas criminal law is about punishing wrongdoing and protecting society.