Legal Glossary

English Term	Hindi Term	Definition
Abduction	अपहरण	Taking a person away by force
Abetment	उकसावा	Instigating or aiding a crime
Accused	अभियुक्त (Abhiyukt)	A person charged with committing a crime.
Acquittal	दोषमुक्ति (Doshmukti) or बरी करना (Bari Karna)	A judgment that a person is not guilty of the crime charged.
Act	अधिनियम	A law passed by legislature
Affidavit	शपथ-पत्र (Shapath-Patra)	A written statement confirmed by oath or affirmation for use as evidence in court.
Agreement	समझौता	Mutual understanding
Appeal	अपील (Appeal)	A request to a higher court to review the decision of a lower court.
Arbitration	मध्यस्थता	Dispute resolution outside court
Arrest	गिरफ्तारी	Taking a person into legal custody
Assault	हमला	Threat or attempt to harm
Attachment	कुर्की	Seizure of property
Bail	जमानत (Zamanat)	Temporary release of an accused person awaiting trial, sometimes with conditions or surety.
Bailment	न्यासिता (Nyasita)	Delivery of goods by one person to another for a specific purpose, with return obligation.
Bankruptcy	दिवालियापन	Inability to pay debts
Bench	पीठ (Peeth)	The judge(s) sitting in court; also refers to a group of judges hearing a case.Panel of judges
Bond	बांड	Legal obligation
Breach	उल्लंघन	Failure to perform duty
Burden of Proof	सबूत का भार (Saboot ka Bhar)	The obligation to prove allegations or facts in a case.
Charge	आरोप (Aarop)	A formal accusation of a crime.
Charge Sheet	चार्जशीट (Charge Sheet) or आरोप-पत्र (Aarop-Patra)	Document filed by police detailing evidence against the accused.
Cognizable Offence	संज्ञेय अपराध (Sangyeya Apraad)	An offence where police can arrest without a warrant.
Complaint	परिवाद (Parivad) or शिकायत (Shikayat)	Allegation that an offence has been committed, made to a magistrate.
Confession	स्वीकारोक्ति (Swikarokti)	Admission of guilt by the accused.
Consideration	प्रतिफल	Value in contract
Constitution	संविधान	Supreme law
Contempt of Court	न्यायालय की अवमानना (Nyayalaya ki Avamana)	Action that disrespects or disobeys the court.
Contract	अनुबंध	Legally enforceable agreement
Conviction	दोषसिद्धि (Doshsiddhi)	A formal declaration of guilt by the court.
Court	न्यायालय (Nyayalaya)	A place where justice is administered.
Crime	अपराध (Apraad)	An act punishable by law.
Cross-Examination	प्रतिपरीक्षा (Pratipariksha)	Questioning of a witness by the opposing party.
Custody	हिरासत	Detention
Damages	क्षतिपूर्ति	Monetary compensation
Debtor	ऋणी	Person owing money
Decree	डिक्री (Decree) or आदेश पत्र (Aadesh Patra)	Formal judgment in a civil case. Court decision
Defamation	मानहानि	Harming reputation
Default	चूक	Failure to perform
Defendant	प्रतिवादी (Prativadi)	The person against whom a lawsuit is filed (in civil cases).
Deposit	जमा	Money placed
Detention	निरोध	Confinement
Dispute	विवाद	Legal disagreement
Divorce	तलाक	Dissolution of marriage
Due Process	विधिक प्रक्रिया	Fair legal procedure
Dying Declaration	मृत्यु पूर्व कथन (Mrityu Purva Kathan)	Statement made by a dying person about the cause of death, admissible as evidence.
Evidence	साक्ष्य (Sakshya)	Information presented in court to prove or disprove facts.
Execution	क्रियान्वयन	Enforcement of a court decree
Exemption	छूट	Freedom from an obligation
Extradition	प्रत्यर्पण	Transfer of accused to another country
FIR	प्रथम सूचना रिपोर्ट	First report to police of a crime / cognizable offence
FIR (First Information Report)	प्रथम सूचना रिपोर्ट (Pratham Suchna Report)	Initial report of a cognizable offence recorded by police.
Forgery	कूटरचना	Making of a false document
Fraud	धोखाधड़ी	Intentional deception
Garnishee	गार्निशी	Third party holding debtor’s money
Good Faith	सद्भावना	Honest intention
Grievance	शिकायत	Cause of complaint
Guarantee	गारंटी	Promise to answer for another
Habeas Corpus	बंदी प्रत्यक्षीकरण (Bandi Pratyakshikaran)	A writ requiring a person under arrest to be brought before a court.
Harassment	उत्पीड़न	Unwanted disturbing conduct
Hearing	सुनवाई	Court proceeding to listen parties
Heir	उत्तराधिकारी	Person entitled to inherit
Hypothecation	बंधक	Charge on movable property
Imprisonment	कारावास (Karavas)	Confinement in prison as punishment.
Injunction	निषेधाज्ञा (Nishedhagna)	Court order to do or refrain from a specific act.
Investigation	जांच (Janch) or अन्वेषण (Anveshan)	Process of collecting evidence in a case.
Judgment	निर्णय (Nirnay) or फैसला (Faisla)	Final decision of the court.
Jurisdiction	अधिकारिता (Adhikarata)	Authority of a court to hear a case.
Justice	न्याय (Nyaya)	Fair administration of law.
Liability	दायित्व (Dayitva)	Legal responsibility.
Lien	ग्रहणाधिकार (Grahanaadhikar)	A legal right to hold another's property as security until a debt is paid.
Litigation	मुकदमेबाजी (Mukadmebazi)	The process of resolving disputes through court proceedings.
Magistrate	मजिस्ट्रेट (Magistrate) or दंडाधिकारी (Dandadhikari)	Judicial officer handling preliminary or minor cases.
Mandamus	परमादेश (Parmaadesh)	Writ commanding a public authority to perform a duty.
Misrepresentation	कुप्रतिनिधित्व (Kupratinidhita)	False statement inducing a contract.
Negligence	लापरवाही (Laparvahi)	Failure to take reasonable care.
Non-Cognizable Offence	असंज्ञेय अपराध (Asangyeya Apraad)	Offence where police need a warrant to arrest.
Notice	नोटिस (Notice) or सूचना (Suchna)	Formal notification in legal proceedings.
Offence	अपराध (Apraad)	Breach of law.
Order	आदेश (Aadesh)	Directive issued by a court.
Plaintiff	वादी (Vadi)	Person who initiates a civil lawsuit.
Plea	अभिवचन (Abhivachan)	Defendant's response to charges (guilty/not guilty).
Power of Attorney	मुख्तारनामा (Mukhtarnama)	Document authorizing someone to act on behalf of another.
Prohibition	प्रतिषेध (Pratishedh)	Writ preventing a lower court from exceeding jurisdiction.
Quash	निरस्त करना (Nirast Karna)	To annul or set aside a proceeding.
Quo Warranto	अधिकार पृच्छा (Adhikar Prichha)	Writ questioning the authority to hold public office.
Remand	रिमांड (Remand)	Sending back to custody for further investigation.
Revision	पुनरीक्षण (Punarikshan)	Review of lower court's decision by higher court.
Suit	वाद (Vaad) or मुकदमा (Mukadma)	Civil proceeding in court.
Summons	सम्मन (Samman)	Order to appear in court.
Trial	विचारण (Vicharan)	Examination of evidence in court.
Trust	न्यास (Nyas)	A legal arrangement where a trustee holds property for the benefit of another person (beneficiary).
Verdict	निर्णय (Nirnay) or फैसला (Faisla)	Decision by judge or jury.
Warrant	वारंट (Warrant)	Court document authorizing arrest or search.
Witness	गवाह (Gawah)	Person giving evidence in court.
Writ	रिट (Writ)	Formal court order under Article 32 or 226 of the Constitution.