Patna High Court

ABOUT Patna High Court - The High Court of Judicature at Patna

The Patna High Court is the High Court of the state of Bihar. It was established on 3 February 1916 and later affiliated under the Government of India Act 1915.
The court is based in Patna, the administrative capital of the state of Bihar, India.

The Patna High Court started its work in 1916 with the Chief Justice and six puisne Judges. In the year 1947, the sanctioned strength of the Court was nine permanent and three additional Judges. Though a separate province for Orissa was created in the year 1937, this High Court exercised jurisdiction over the territories of that province till 26th July, 1948, when a separate High Court was constituted for Orissa. Even after the constitution of the Orissa High Court, the sanctioned strength of Judges for this Court remained the same. In February, 1950, the three posts of Additional Judges were made permanent. The post of the 13th permanent Judge was sanctioned in September, 1952, and that of the 14th permanent Judge in January, 1956. Since then there has been no increase in the sanctioned strength of the permanent Judges of the Court. Four posts of Additional Judges have also been sanctioned from time to time since July, 1957. In November, 1965 there were 14 permanent Judges, including the Chief Justice and three Additional Judges. At present there are 29 permanent Judges including the Chief Justice and 14 Additional Judges. In the year 1916, when the Patna High Court was created, there were 11 judgeships under its control in Bihar and one in Orissa. In the year 1947, there were 13 judgeships in Bihar, Orissa having already been constituted into a separate province with a separate High Court of its own in 1948. The judgeships of Hazaribagh and Palamau were created on 4th April, 1949 and 18th July, 1960 respectively. Formerly, there was only one judgeship for the districts of Manbhum and Singhbhum with headquarters at Purulia. After the transfer of a portion of the district of Manbhum including Purulia to West Bengal, the remaining portion of the Manbhum district, thereafter, known as the district of Dhanbad, and the district of Singhbhum were formed into a new judgeship and sessions Division with effect from the 1st November, 1956 with headquarters at Dhanbad. On 4th February, 1960 a separate judgeship for Singhbhum was created with headquarters at Chaibasa. There are thus 16 judgeships at present as against 17 districts. A separate judgeship for Saharsa has also been sanctioned. With the creation of a separate judgeship for Saharsa the number of judgeship under the control and supervision of the High Court would be increased to 17. On 15th November, 2000 on the bifurcation of the erstwhile State of Bihar, a new State of Jharkhand came in the existence and 13 Judgeships remained with the newly created State of Jharkhand. At present there are altogether 37 Judgeship in the State of Bihar with the creation of Jamui and Sheohar Judgeship in the yrs. 2005 and 2012 respectfully.