Basic Difference Between Civil Law and Criminal Law

A. In a civil case, the dispute has usually associated with private parties, organizations, or between the two in which compensation is an award to the victim. The fundamental principle of civil law is to protect the rights of individuals.

B.  In a Criminal Law, the crime has committed against society and usually end up with a huge fine, severe punishment, life imprisonment and even death penalty. It includes law like Indian Penal code, 1860, Code of criminal procedure, 1973, Indian Evidence Act. 1873 etc. Criminal laws are supposed to regulate physical act and guilty intention of accused.

Definition

Civil law consist of a body of rules that defines and protects the private rights of citizens offers legal remedies or protection against the wrongdoer that may be sought in a dispute, and which encompasses areas of law such as contracts, torts, property and family law. According to Merriam-webster dictionary,” civil law is the body of private law developed from Roman law and used in Louisiana and in many countries outside the English-speaking world”

In India Criminal Caws, Crime has divided into two categories (a) misdemeanours. (b) felonies. A misdemeanour is an offense that is considered a lower-level criminal offense, such as minor assaults, traffic offenses, or slight thefts. In felony crimes involve more serious offences. According to encyclopedia brittanica  “Criminal law, the body of law that defines criminal offenses, regulates the apprehension, charging, and trial of suspected persons, and fixes penalties and modes of treatment applicable to convicted offenders”.

Conclusion

Finally, the primary objective of the law is to protect the rights of people and maintain the law & order in society. On one hand, civil law provides compensation to the aggrieved party. On the other hand, In Criminal Law. A person punished for the crime that is mention in statutes.