In modern times, the judiciary performs several functions, but
there is no uniformity about them in various States. We shall
enumerate here the most important of them. Settlement of
Disputes: The primary function of the judiciary is to apply
existing laws to the cases or legal disputes brought before the
courts for settlement. These cases may be civil or criminal.
When a case is brought before a court, its duty is first to find
the facts, then to discover the law applicable to the case, and
pass a judgment according to it. Thus the judiciary applies the
laws, ascertains and decides rights, punishes crimes,
administers justice and protects the innocent from injury and
usurpation. Nevertheless, to a judge a law is as it is laid down
by the legal sovereign, no matter if it is good or bad, just or
unjust, moral or not moral. Interpretation of Laws: Sometimes
the law is not clear, either because the law-makers did not
foresee the circumstances of the case, or the wording of the
statute is ambiguous or because two