Question

In which year was the High Court first established ?
 (a) 1861
(b) 1860
(c) 1972
(d) 1980

Answer 1

Hint: In terms of Articles 226 and 227 of the constitution, the role of most high courts consists mainly of lower court appeals and written petitions. Written jurisdiction is also the high court's original jurisdiction.

Complete answer: The 1861 'Indian High Court Act,' vested in the Queen of England to grant patent letters to erect and create Calcutta, Madras and Bombay High Courts. The Indian High Courts Act 1861 created the High Courts of Calcutta, Madras and Bombay. The Calcutta High Court, formerly known as the Fort William High Court of Judicature, was created by the Letters Patent of 14 May 1862, issued under the Act of the High Court, 1861, which specified that Letters Patent should specify the authority and powers of the High Court. On 1 July, 1862, with Sir Barnes Peacock as its first Chief Justice, the High Court of Judicature at Fort William was officially opened. Justice Sumboo Nath Pandit was appointed on 2 February 1863 as the first Indian to take office as a Calcutta High Court judge, followed by legal luminaries such as Justice Dwarka Nath Mitter, Justice Ramesh Chandra Mitter, Sir Chunder Madhab Ghosh, Sir Gooroodas Banerji, Sir Ashutosh Mookerjee, and Justice P.B. Chakravartti, who was the first Indian to become a permanent Chief Justice. The Calcutta High Court, along with the High Court of Bombay, Madras, has the distinction of being the first High Court and one of the three Chartered High Courts to be created in India.

Therefore the correct option is (a) 1861.

Note: The Constitution directs the Government that in all respects of its jurisdiction, the High Court shall have the power to grant any person or authority, including where necessary, any Government, directives, orders or writs, for the compliance of any of the rights conferred on it by Part III and for any other reason as well. In conjunction with the Chief Justice of India and the Governor of the State, the President of India appoints judges to the high court. A chief justice is in charge of the high courts.