Every country’s constitution enforces certain laws, for the purpose of maintaining order and protecting the society from crimes. These laws are broadly classified into two categories, i.e. Civil Law and Criminal Law. The Civil law lays emphasis on resolving the dispute like family dispute, rent matters, disputes relating to the sale and so forth. On the other hand, Criminal law stresses on punishment to the offender, who breaches the law by acts such as, murder, rape, theft, smuggling, etc.
Civil law, plays a crucial role, as it resolves most of the private matters, that happen to individuals. Conversely, the criminal law holds dominating positions among the social control agencies, as it is a powerful tool which is used to protect the public interest against anti-social conduct. Take a read of the article given below, to understand the difference between civil law and criminal law.
Content: Civil Law Vs Criminal Law
Comparison Chart
| Basis for Comparison | Civil Law | Criminal Law |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Civil law refers to a general law, which is concerned with disputes between individuals, organizations, or both wherein the wrongdoer compensates the affected one. | Criminal law implies the law related to the offenses or crimes committed against the society as a whole. |
| Filed by | Plaintiff | Government |
| Purpose | To sustain the rights of a person and to compensate him. | To maintain law and order, to protect society and to give punishment to the wrongdoers. |
| Starts with | Filing a petition to the respective court or tribunal, by the aggrieved party. | Firstly, a complaint is lodged with the police who investigate the crime, thereafter, a case is filed in the court. |
| Deals with | It deals with any harm or violation to individual rights. | It deals with the acts which law defines as offences. |
| Action | Sue | Prosecute |
| Outcome | Remedy | Punishment |
| Powers of court | Award for damages or injunction | Imprisonment, fine, discharge. |
| Consequence | Defendant is liable or not liable. | Defendant is guilty or not guilty. |
Definition of Civil Law
Civil law alludes to the system of rules and regulations, which describes and safeguards the rights of the residents of the country and provides legal remedies to a dispute. It includes cases relating to private matters such as property, contracts, torts, family dispute, etc.
The party who files the suit is called plaintiff, while the party who responds to the suits is known as a defendant and the entire process is termed as litigation.
The basic objective of the civil law is to seek redressal of the wrongs, by imposing compensation on the wrongdoer rather than giving punishment. The wrongdoer bears only that extent of the damages, which are required to make good the wrong done to the aggrieved party.
Definition of Criminal Law
Criminal Law can be understood as the set of rules and statutes, that highlights the conduct or act prohibited by the state, as it violates the intention of the law, threatens and harms public and welfare safety. The law does not only defines the crimes but also specifies punishment to be imposed for the commission of a crime.
The primary objective of criminal law is to penalize the person who committed a crime, for the purpose of communicating a message to him/her and the entire society, not to commit the crime, or else, the act they commited will attract retribution.
When one commits an act, which is not permitted by law, he/she risks prosecution. In criminal law, firstly the complaint is registered with the police, regarding the crime, after which the police investigates the crime and files criminal charges. The aggrieved party can only report a crime, but the charges can only be filed by the government, who is represented by the prosecutor in the court of law against the defendant.
In India, the Criminal Law is broadly classified into three major acts, which are Indian Penal Code, 1860, Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 and Indian Evidence Act, 1873.
Key Differences Between Civil Law and Criminal Law
The differences between civil law and criminal law can be drawn clearly on the following grounds:
- A general law, which is associated with disputes between individuals, organizations, or a two, wherein the wrongdoer compensates the affected one, is known as civil law. The law with respect to the offenses or crimes committed against the society as a whole is criminal law.
- While a civil law is initiated by a plaintiff, i.e. the aggrieved party, in criminal law the petition is filed by the government.
- The purpose of civil law is to sustain the rights of a person and to compensate him. On the other hand, the purpose of criminal law is to maintain law and order, to protect society and to give punishment to the wrongdoers.
- To start a case in civil law, one needs to file a petition to the respective court or tribunal. Conversely, to begin a case in criminal law, first of all, the complaint should be registered with the police who investigate the crime, thereafter, a case is filed in the court.
- Civil law is concerned with any harm or infringement of individual rights. As against this, the criminal law is all about the acts which law defines as offenses.
- In civil law, the aggrieved party or complainant sues the other party, whereas, in the case of criminal law, an individual is prosecuted for committing a crime in the court of law.
- In civil law, the remedy is sought to settle the dispute between the parties concerned, wherein compensation may be provided to the aggrieved party. On the contrary, in criminal law, punishment is given to the wrong doers, or fine may be imposed.
- In civil law, the court has the power to award for damages and injunction. Unlike, criminal law, wherein the court has the power to give imprisonment, charge fine or discharge the defendant.
- In a civil case, the defendant is liable or not liable, whereas in a criminal case the defendant is either guilty or not guilty.
Conclusion
As we all know that the two types of law are made to serve a variety of purposes. Civil law is primarily created to settle disputes and provide compensation to the aggrieved party. On the contrary, the criminal is aimed at preventing undesirable behavior and give punishment the ones, who commit such acts, which are prohibited by the law.
Sarfraz says
To the point, with all important factors, you made easy to understand the difference, I appreciate. ..thank u
Pradeep V says
Simplified to Core . THANK YOU !!
ONE suggestion : With General example for difference will serve the objectives.
Alefiya Bhiwandiwala says
Easily explained, simplified awesome
Thankyou was very helpful
Mwaura Charles says
Quite an informative article. I have learnt alot.
Simon Tambai says
I grasped the two distinct concepts of civil and criminal laws
Thank you for the informative and reliable data that really helps in deep understanding of civil and criminal law.