Ananya Gupta
August 31, 2023 11:16
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The High Court holds the supreme judicial authority within a state and is considered the second-highest judicial body in the country after the Supreme Court of India. Presently, there are 25 High Courts distributed across various states in India.
The apex judicial authority within each state is the High Court. According to Article 214 of the Indian Constitution, every state in India to have its own High Court. Article 231mentions that if it’s deemed necessary, the Parliament has the power to establish a High Court for two or more states as well. It’s crucial for UPSC Exam candidates to be aware of the count of High Courts in India.
India has a total of 25 High Courts, with six of them exercising jurisdiction over more than one state or union territory. Delhi, as a Union Territory, maintains its own independent High Court. Each High Court is consist of a Chief Justice and other judges appointed by the President of India.
There are a total of 25 High Courts in India. The provided list enumerates the High Courts for each state and union territory along with their respective establishment years:
| List of High Courts in India | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Name | Territorial Jurisdiction | Seat & Bench |
| 1862 | Bombay | Maharashtra Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman DiuGoa |
Seat: Mumbai Bench: Panaji, Aurangabad, and Nagpur |
| 1862 | Kolkata | West Bengal Andaman & Nicobar islands |
Seat: Kolkata Bench: Port Blair |
| 1862 | Madras | Tamil Nadu Pondicherry |
Seat: Chennai Bench: Madurai |
| 1866 | Allahabad | Uttar Pradesh | Seat: Allahabad Bench: Lucknow |
| 1884 | Karnataka | Karnataka | Seat: Bengaluru Bench: Dharwad and Gulbarga |
| 1916 | Patna | Bihar | Patna |
| 1948 | Guwahati | Assam Nagaland Mizoram Arunachal Pradesh |
Seat: Guwahati Bench: Kohima, Aizawl, and Itanagar |
| 1949 | Odisha | Odisha | Cuttack |
| 1949 | Rajasthan | Rajasthan | Seat: Jodhpur Bench: Jaipur |
| 1956 | Madhya Pradesh | Madhya Pradesh | Seat: Jabalpur Bench: Gwalior and Indore |
| 1958 | Kerala | Kerala & Lakshadweep | Ernakulam |
| 1960 | Gujarat | Gujarat | Ahmedabad |
| 1966 | Delhi | Delhi | Delhi |
| 1971 | Himachal Pradesh | Himachal Pradesh | Shimla |
| 1975 | Punjab & Haryana | Punjab, Haryana & Chandigarh | Chandigarh |
| 1975 | Sikkim | Sikkim | Gangtok |
| 2000 | Chattisgarh | Chattisgarh | Bilaspur |
| 2000 | Uttarakhand | Uttarakhand | Nainital |
| 2000 | Jharkhand | Jharkhand | Ranchi |
| 2013 | Tripura | Tripura | Agartala |
| 2013 | Manipur | Manipur | Imphal |
| 2013 | Meghalaya | Meghalaya | Shillong |
| 2019 | Telangana | Telangana | Hyderabad |
| 2019 | Andhra Pradesh | Andhra Pradesh | Amravati |
| 2019 | Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh (NOTE: Jammu & Kashmir High Court, originally established in 1928, underwent changes after the division of Jammu & Kashmir into two Union Territories. As a result, there is now a shared High Court serving both Union Territories ). | Jammu and Kashmir Ladakh |
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The President appoints the Chief Justice of a High Court after consulting with the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and the State’s Governor. Regarding the rest of the judges, their appointments are made in agreement between the President, Governor, and the Chief Justice of the respective High Court.
To become eligible for the position of a Judge in a High Court, certain conditions must be met:
Initially, the age of retirement for High Court judges was set at 60. However, through the 15th amendment of the Constitution in 1963, this age was extended to 62.
The removal of judges of a High Court is a significant process that ensures the integrity and accountability of the judiciary. Here’s an explanation of how the removal of High Court judges works in India:
Grounds for Removal: A judge of a High Court can be removed from office on the grounds of “proved misbehavior or incapacity.” This provision exists to maintain the independence and credibility of the judiciary and to address instances where a judge’s conduct or performance falls below the expected standards.
Initiation of Removal: The process of removal can be initiated by the President of India. However, the actual initiation typically happens through a motion introduced in either the Lok Sabha (House of the People) or the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) – the two houses of the Parliament. This motion should be supported by a specific number of members.
Investigation: If such a motion is accepted, an investigation committee is constituted. This committee usually consists of three members: a judge of the Supreme Court, a chief justice of a High Court, and a distinguished jurist. They investigate the allegations against the judge.
Judicial Inquiry: The inquiry process resembles a trial, where the judge facing allegations is given the opportunity to present their case, submit evidence, and defend themselves against the charges. The committee examines witnesses and gathers relevant information to make an informed decision.
Report and Parliamentary Approval: After the inquiry, the committee submits a detailed report to the Parliament. Both houses review the report and the evidence presented. For a judge’s removal to proceed, the motion requires an absolute majority (more than 50% of the total members) and a 2/3rd majority of the members present and voting in each house, voting separately.
Presidential Approval: Once both houses approve the motion, it is presented to the President for final approval. If the President gives assent, the judge is removed from office. This step is crucial to ensure that the process remains transparent, just, and fair.
The removal process is designed to strike a balance between preserving the independence of the judiciary and holding judges accountable for their actions. It ensures that a judge’s removal is not arbitrary and requires a substantial level of evidence and legislative approval, reflecting the importance of judicial integrity in a democratic society.
The Chief Justice of a High Court receives a monthly salary of Rs. 280,000, while the other judges are paid Rs. 250,000 per month.
The High Court holds significant powers and performs important functions within its jurisdiction. Here’s an overview:
Tribunal: A tribunal is a body, individual, or institution vested with the authority to pass judgments, resolve disputes, or make decisions, regardless of whether it is referred to as a tribunal in its official name.
Permanent Bench: A permanent bench consists of one or more High Court Judges who convene at a specific location throughout the year. This location is different from the High Court’s main seat.
Circuit Bench: Circuit Benches are temporary courts that operate for a limited period, usually a few months each year. They handle proceedings in designated regions.
Division Bench: In a division bench, a case is heard and evaluated by a minimum of two judges. This ensures diverse perspectives and thorough consideration of legal matters.
Full Bench: A full bench is composed of three or more judges nominated by the Chief Justice. It convenes for comprehensive deliberation on complex or significant legal issues.
The Andhra Pradesh High Court was established in 2019 through a Presidential order as per the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act of 2014.
The Jammu & Kashmir High Court dates back to 1928 when it was originally established. Following the division of Jammu & Kashmir into two separate Union Territories – Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh – the two territories now share a single common high court. Therefore, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court is not the newest one, as it existed since 1928.
High Courts in India are important judicial bodies within each state or Union Territory. They hold a significant position as the top courts for hearing appeals and handling legal matters that have been decided by lower courts.
| Related Links | |
|---|---|
| High Court | Prime Minister of India |
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