[Reader-list] Notes from the court-4

[zamrooda]

Delhi HIgh Court

The High Court of Delhi was established on 31st October, 1966.

 Initially, the High Court of Judicature at Lahore, which was established by
 a Letters Patent dated 21st March, 1919, exercised jurisdiction over the
 then provinces of the Punjab and Delhi. This position continued till the
 Indian Independence Act, 1947 when the dominions of India and Pakistan were
 created. The High Courts (Punjab) Order, 1947 established a new High Court
 for the territory of what was then called the East Punjab with effect from
 15th August, 1947. The India (Adaptation of Existing Indian Laws) Order,
 1947 provided that any reference in an existing Indian law to the High Court
 of Judicature at Lahore, be replaced by a reference to the High Court of
 East Punjab.

 The High Court of East Punjab started functioning from Shimla in a building
 called "Peterhoff". This building burnt down in January, 1981.

 When the Secretariat of the Punjab Government shifted to Chandigarh in
 1954-55, the High Court also shifted to Chandigarh. The High Court of
 Punjab, as it is later came to be called, exercised jurisdiction over Delhi
 through a Circuit Bench which dealt with the cases pertaining to the Union
 Territory of Delhi and the Delhi Administration. In view of the importance
 of Delhi, its population and other considerations, Parliament thought it
 necessary to establish a new High Court of Delhi. This was achieved by
 enacting the Delhi High Court Act, 1966 on 5th September, 1966.

 By virtue of Section 3(1) of the Delhi High Court Act, the Central
 Government was empowered to appoint a date by a notification in the official
 gazette, establishing a High Court for the Union Territory of Delhi. The
 appointed date was 31st October, 1966.

 The High Court of Delhi initially exercised jurisdiction not only over the
 Union Territory of Delhi, but also Himachal Pradesh. The High Court of Delhi
 had a Himachal Pradesh Bench at Shimla in a building called Ravenswood. The
 High Court of Delhi continued to exercise jurisdiction over Himachal Pradesh
 until the State of Himachal Pradesh Act, 1970 was enforced on 25th January,
 1971.

 The High Court of Delhi was established with four Judges. They were Chief
 Justice K.S.Hegde, Justice I.D.Dua, Justice H.R.Khanna and Justice
 S.K.Kapur. The sanctioned strength of Judges of this High Court increased
 from time to time. Presently, the sanctioned strength of Judges of the High
 Court of Delhi is 27 permanent Judges and 6 Additional Judges.

-------------------------------------------------------