High Courts in India: Overview

• The High Court of a State is the highest court of the State and all other courts of the State work under it.
• Normally there is one High Court in every State but there can be only one High Court for two or more States as well (Article 231), according to the constitution.
• There are 25 High Courts in India.
• The Calcutta High Court, established in 1862, is the oldest High Court in India. The Bombay and Madras High Courts were also established in the same year.
• The newest High Courts are the Telangana Court and Andhra Pradesh High Court, both established in the year 2019.
• In every High Court, there is a Chief Justice and many other judges whose number is defined by the President of India.
• The Bombay, Madras and Calcutta High Courts are the three Chartered High Courts in India
• The Madras Law Journal, published from the Madras High Court, was the first journal in India dedicated to reporting judgements of a Court (1891).

Total High Courts in India

The total number of high courts in India is 25. The list High Courts for all states and union territories with established year is given below:

Powers and Functions of High Court

High Court has the following jurisdiction and powers:

1) Power to issue certain writs:-Every High Court has the power to issue writs of habeus corpus, mandamus, prohibition, quo-warranto and certiorari for the enforcement of Fundamental Rights or for other purpose.

2) Power of Superintendence: Every High Court has superintendence over all Courts and Tribunals throughout the territories in relation to which it exercises jurisdiction.

3) Power to transfer case: If the High Court is satisfied that a case pending in a court subordinate to it involves a substantial question of law as to the interpretation of the Constitution, the determination of which is necessary for the disposal of the case, it shall withdraw the case and may-
• either dispose of the case itself; or
• determine the said question of law and return the case to the court from which the case has been so withdrawn together with a copy of its judgement on such question, and the said court shall on receipt there of proceed to dispose of the case in conformity with such judgement.

4) Consultation in the appointment and posting etc. of District Judges: The High Court is consulted by the Governor in the appointment, posting and promotion of District Judges. It is also consulted in the appointment of other members of the State Judicial Service.

5) Control over subordinate courts: The control over district court and courts subordinate thereto including the posting and promotion of and the grant of leave to persons belonging to the judicial service of a State and holding any post inferior to the post of district judge is vested in the High Court.

6) Other original and appellate powers: High Court has original and appellate jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters as conferred by the Codes of Civil and Criminal Procedure and the Letters of Patent.