Key Highlights
- Patna High Court, established in 1916, remains one of India’s oldest judicial pillars.
- Initially exercised authority over both Bihar and Orissa before jurisdictional division in 1948.
- Its Ranchi bench evolved into the Jharkhand High Court after the 2000 state‑rebirth.
- The Court celebrated a centenary in 2015, endorsed by national dignitaries.
Detailed Insights
The foundation of Patna High Court traces back to a proclamation issued on 22 March 1912, followed by the laying of its foundation stone on 1 December 1913 by Governor‑General Sir Charles Hardinge. The building was completed on 3 February 1916, and official sessions commenced the next month. Sir Edward Maynard Des Champs Chamier, the court’s first Chief Justice, laid down its procedural framework.
In its formative years, the Court served a bi‑state jurisdiction, encompassing both Bihar and Orissa. The separate High Court for Orissa was inaugurated on 26 July 1948, refining the Court’s focus on Bihar. Subsequently, a circuit bench was established in Ranchi in 1972; it attained permanent status in 1976, and, following Jharkhand’s creation in 2000, became the Jharkhand High Court.
The centenary celebration on 18 April 2015 was chaired by then‑President Pranab Mukherjee, accompanied by Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi, Chief Justice of India H.L. Datt, and Patna High Court Chief Justice L. Narasimha Reddy.
A distinguished cohort of judges has graced the bench, including the first woman Chief Justice, Justice Rekha Doshit, and former Chief Justice of India Justice Bhuvaneshwar Prasad Sinha.
Key Concepts
- High Court: The superior judicial body that hears appeals from lower courts in a state or union territory.
- Jurisdiction: The legal authority of a court to adjudicate a specific category of matters.
- Bench: A group of judges, or a particular seat within a court, convened to handle cases.
- Centenary: A 100‑year anniversary marking a significant institutional milestone.
- Reorganisation Act: Legislation that restructures or creates new territorial jurisdictions for judicial administration.