Indian Judiciary AR 2018-19 PDF
Indian Judiciary AR 2018-19 PDF
JUDICIARY 2018-19
Published By
Website
http://sci.gov.in
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Indian Judiciary : Annual Report 2018-19
Photography by
1. Vinay Thakur and Amogh Thakur
2. J. S. Studio (Jinendra Kr. Jain) 9711217865
Introduction 5
3. Jurisdiction 57
1
4. Supreme Court – Building, Precincts 61
and Architecture
5. Court Administration 69
7. Recent Initiatives 87
97
2
10. High Court of Jammu and Kashmir 227
281
Prof. Ronald Dworkin was of the view that Constitutional Courts are upholders of the democratic
ideals enshrined in the Constitution and their deliberations can themselves be regarded as exemplar
of a true democratic process. The above statement holds good in context of processes in all Courts
of a democratic society. It follows as a logical corollary that there should be a democratic discourse
between the Courts and all the stake-holders.
“Indian Judiciary: Annual Report 2018-19” is a venture in above direction. The Report has been
organised into two parts; wherein Part 1 focuses on various facets of The Supreme Court and Part 2
engages with the High Courts.
The Report is a Primer on the Supreme Court. It makes an attempt to give a synoptic view of the
Organisational Structure of The Supreme Court and various judicial and non-judicial engagements
and initiatives under the auspices of the Supreme Court. On one hand it’ll allow the reader to have
a sense of significant judicial pronouncements in the form of a chapter on Landmark Judgments; on
the other it will introduce them to various outreach programmes undertaken under the guidance of
the Supreme Court.
It was felt necessary that to deeply embed the democratic culture of public reason the judgements
of the Supreme Court must be made available in vernacular languages. A small step in that direction
has been taken. The other pivotal event has been the inauguration of additional building complex
for addressing the infrastructural constraints.
In a fast-changing world, it is very important that judges and other stake-holders must on regular
basis be made aware about those shifts. Various training and outreach programmes were held
under the aegis of the Supreme Court to benefit all the stake-holders.
This Report is also an acknowledgment of herculean tasks being performed by the High Courts and
the Subordinate Courts. The Courts are to a large extent, for effective justice delivery, dependent
upon the yeoman services provided by the Bar. I must unequivocally commend the Bar for the
same. The institutions are reflection of the work of many invisible faces behind them. The officers and
Staff of Supreme Court and High Court Registry are those invisible faces tirelessly working towards
meeting the goals of the Institution.
This Report is an attempt to initiate a democratic discourse between all stakeholders of the Indian
Judiciary. It is also an attempt into periodic stock-taking of our role as, “Guardians of the Constitution”
as entrusted on us by the Constitution of India. I sincerely believe that all stakeholders will have a
symbiotic relationship in actualisation of goals set by the Constitution.
(Sharad A. Bobde)
Chief Justice of India
Introduction
The Annual Report 2018-2019, showcases the extensive and overall initiatives and achievements of
the entire Indian Judiciary (Supreme Court of India as well as the 25 High Courts and subordinate
courts under their jurisdiction) on one platform, for easy use and reference.
The Annual Report 2018-19 is divided into two parts; Part-1 is dedicated to the Supreme Court
whereas Part-2 concerns the 25 High Courts.
Part-1 of the Report contains a total of 15 chapters. Chapter 1 contains brief profiles of Hon’ble the
Chief Justice of India and Hon’ble Judges of the Supreme Court. Chapter 2 traces out the evolution
of the Supreme Court from past to present, while Chapter 3 relates to the jurisdiction of the Supreme
Court. Chapter 4 is in regard to the Supreme Court building and architecture; and covers a landmark
event, namely, inauguration of the Additional Building Complex of the Supreme Court of India. The
Additional Building Complex, which is a manifestation of the existing original Supreme Court Building,
was inaugurated on 17 July 2019 by His Excellency the President of India in a glittering ceremony
in the presence of Hon’ble the Chief Justice of India and Hon’ble Judges of the Supreme Court
and other dignitaries. Chapter 5 concerns Court Administration and also contains information on
two specialized Secretariats, namely, the Conference Secretariat and the Information and Statistics
Secretariat. Chapter 6 talks about the Judicial Wing of the Supreme Court Registry which is responsible
for case management, from filing stage to disposal, and consignment of record. Chapter 7 portrays
some of the recent initiatives and efforts of the Supreme Court - for meeting its constitutional goals,
and for qualitative and quantitative improvement of officers and staff of the Supreme Court Registry
viz. recent amendments introduced in the Supreme Court Rules, 2013 to ensure smooth functioning
of the Court, and setting up of a vigilance cell, a training cell and a human resource cell in the
Supreme Court Registry. The recent initiative of translation of the Supreme Court judgments into
vernacular languages has also been covered in the said Chapter. Chapter 8 and 9 relate to the
Bar, and to the Library and Museum respectively. Recent technological accomplishments of the
Supreme Court Registry to meet various challenges faced by the courts, have been covered in
Chapter 10. Chapter 11 and 12 amongst others contains information about the activities of the sister
institutions of the Supreme Court and highlight the importance of Education, Training and Research
and Alternative Dispute Resolution. Chapter 13 gives a glimpse of the important conferences and
meets attended by the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India and the Hon’ble Judges– inland as well as
abroad; and also the visits of foreign delegations to the Supreme Court. Some of the landmark
judgments of 2018-19 have been covered in Chapter 14 while Chapter 15 relates to Publications.
Part-2 of the Annual Report contains relevant information in regard to all the 25 High Courts with one
Chapter dedicated to each High Court. Each such chapter contains a “Brief Introduction” of the
High Court concerned, followed by concise write-ups on the “Administrative Achievements” and
“Technological Accomplishments” of the High Court during the judicial year 2018-2019. Relevant
statistical data relating to a High Court and the Subordinate Courts falling under its jurisdiction have
also been incorporated in each of the 25 chapters dedicated to High Courts.
1
Supreme
Part
Court
of India
1 Profile of Judges*
Born on 24 April 1956 at Nagpur, Maharashtra, son of Shri Arvind Shriniwas Bobde. Took B.A. and LL.B.
Degrees from Nagpur University.
Enrolled on the Roll of the Bar Council of Maharashtra in 1978. Practiced Law at the Nagpur Bench
of the Bombay High Court with appearances at Bombay before the Principal Seat and before the
Hon’ble Supreme Court of India for over 21 years.
Elevated to the Bench of the Bombay High Court on 29 March 2000, as Additional Judge. Sworn in
as Chief Justice of Madhya Pradesh High Court on 16 October 2012.
Born on 03 September 1955, son of Late Justice of India decided to close the evening Law Colleges and
Hargovind Mishra, Judge of the Madhya Pradesh High also decided that 5-year Law Course should be started
Court. Did B.Sc. M.A. LL.B. Called to the Bar in the year in all the colleges. More than two hundred sub-standard
1978. Practised in Constitutional, Civil, Industrial, Service Law Colleges were closed by BCI during his tenure as
and Criminal Matters. Elected as youngest Chairman Chairman, BCI, and to maintain dignity of profession, a
of the apex statutory body of Advocates - Bar Council large number of disciplinary cases were decided. The
of India (1998-99). Also remained Vice-Chairman of Bar amount of welfare and medical aid to lawyers was also
Council of India and M.P. State Bar Council. Elected to enhanced.
Bar Council of M.P. with highest record votes in 1989 and
1995. In the Bar Council, worked for improvement of Was instrumental in framing of Foreign Law Degree
legal education. Recognition Rules of 1997 under Advocates Act, 1961;
Bar Council of India Employees Service Rules, 1996
Co-chaired All India Meet of Development of Law and Rules pertaining to Foreign Lawyers Conditions
Curriculum which introduced 3 and 5-year courses of of Practice in India. Remained Chairman of General
LL.B. in the year 1998-1999, in order to improve the quality Council of National Law School of India University,
of legal education. During his Chairmanship, Bar Council Bangalore, w.e.f. 15 May 1998 to 24 October 1999 and
continues to be its Member.
Led delegation of Indian Bar to the Common Wealth
Law Conference of “Common Wealth Countries” held
at ‘Malaysia’ in September 1999 and chaired a Session.
Appointed as Judge of the High Court of Madhya
Pradesh on 25 October 1999. Was Administrative Judge
of Madhya Pradesh High Court, and Chairman, State
Legal Services Authority of Madhya Pradesh. Appointed
as the Chief Justice of Rajasthan High Court on 26
November 2010. Appointed as the Chief Justice of the
High Court at Calcutta on 14 December 2012. Decided
approx. 97,000 cases as Judge of High Courts of M.P.,
Rajasthan and Calcutta.
Elevated as Judge of the Supreme Court of India on 07
July 2014.
After elevation as Judge, Supreme Court of India,
participated in several national and international
conferences and seminars on legal issues, including
the International Conference organised in 2017 at
St. Petersburg, Russia on the topic of Constitutional Justice.
Had been to the Supreme People’s Court
of Vietnam from 09 to 14 June 2018 for
sharing with their Judges and Court
officials about their mediation model
and its practical information for human
resource building for mediation and
preparation for the development
of court-annexed mediation bill
in Vietnam. Participated in the
4th International Summit of High
Courts on Istanbul Declaration on
Transparency in Judicial Process
held on 11-12 October 2018 at
Istanbul, Turkey.
Due to retire on
02 September 2020.
Justice Rohinton FALI NARIMAN
Born on 13 August 1956. Did schooling from Cathedral Venkatachaliah amended the Rules in order to make
School, Mumbai (High 1st Division, ISC). Did B.Com. from him a Senior Counsel at the young age of 37 against the
Shri Ram College of Commerce, LL.B. (1st Class-2nd in mandatory 45. Has practiced law for 35 years. Has over
the University) from Faculty of Law, Delhi, and LL.M. from 500 Reported Supreme Court Judgments to his credit.
Harvard Law School (Thesis on ‘Affirmative Action: a Has expertise in Comparative Constitutional Law and
Comparison between India and US Constitutional Law’). Civil Law.
Practiced Maritime Law in New York at Haight, Gardener, Elevated as Judge of the Supreme Court of India on 07
Poor and Havens for 1 year. Was Solicitor General of July 2014.
India from 27 July 2011 to 04 February 2013. Was made
He is on the Governing Board of Gujarat Law School,
Senior Counsel by the Chief Justice of India. Justice
Ahmedabad. Is a Member of Mediation Committee,
Supreme Court of India. Has given numerous lectures
on varied topics including Western Classical Music,
Comparative Religion, History, and Constitutional Law,
at many venues, including IIC Delhi, Bombay High Court,
Gujarat High Court, Madras High Court (Madurai Bench)
and Himachal Pradesh High Court. Was a Member of
the Delegation from the Supreme Court of India to the
Supreme Court of the United States of America, 2002.
Gave the keynote address at the K.L. Misra Lecture on
SPIRITUALITY AND LAW along with the Chief Justice of
India and other Supreme Court Judges in Allahabad
in 2004. Lectured at the Bar Council of India, Supreme
Court of India and the University of Delhi.
Born on 20 July 1955. Enrolled on 07 January During her tenure of about ten years as Judge of
1981. Practised in Mofussil Courts at Tirupattur, Madras High Court dealt with Civil Cases, Criminal
Krishnagiri and Harur in State of Tamil Nadu. Cases, Commercial Disputes, Company Law Matters,
Admirality Law, Port-Trust Cases, Tax Cases, Electricity
Entered Tamil Nadu Higher Judicial Service as a
matters, Environmental Cases, Insolvency Cases,
direct recruit District Judge in 1988 and worked
Labour and Service Matters and other category of
as District and Sessions Judge in various Districts
Cases.
of the State.
As a Member of Board of Governors and as President
Elevated as Judge of the High Court of Madras
of Board of Governors in State Judicial Academy,
on 03 April 2003.
played a key role in organizing systematic Training
Programmes for Judicial Officers and Staff Members.
Authored the book “Hand Book of Civil and Criminal
Courts Management and Use of Computers” for
guidance of District Judiciary and published “Hand
Book for guidance of Judicial Ministerial Staff” both in
the District Judgeship and for the High Court Registry.
Born on 08 June 1957 at Chirala, Prakasam Practiced at the High Court of Andhra Pradesh,
District, Andhra Pradesh. Did his B.Com., B.L., Hyderabad from January 1985 to December
from Nagarjuna University, Guntur, Andhra 1994. Practiced at the Supreme Court of India
Pradesh. from January 1995 to May 2016.
Enrolled as an Advocate on 29 July 1982 at Bar Designated as a Senior Advocate by the Andhra
Council of Andhra Pradesh. Practiced at the Pradesh High Court in December 2000.
District Court, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh from July
Served as Additional Solicitor General of India
1982 to January 1984.
from August 2003 to May 2004 and again from
26 August 2013 to 18 December 2014.
Born on 26 December 1958. Studied in Modern jurisdictions of the High Court of Delhi and the
School, New Delhi from 1964 to 1976 completing Supreme Court of India.
his school education in Science & Economics.
Remained Advocate-on-Record of the
Graduated in Economics (Hons.) from St.
Supreme Court of India from 1987 to 1999
Stephens College, Delhi University in 1979.
and was designated as a Senior Advocate in
Obtained LL.B. Degree from The Campus Law
December, 1999.
Centre, Delhi University in 1982.
Elevated as Additional Judge of the High Court
Enrolled as an Advocate with Bar Council of
of Delhi on 03 May 2001 and was appointed as
Delhi on 15 July 1982. Practiced mainly in the
a Permanent Judge on 02 May 2003.
Commercial, Civil, Writ, Original and Company
Elevated as the Acting Chief Justice of Delhi
High Court w.e.f. 23 September 2012 to 25
September 2012.
Born on 07 May 1955 in Nurpur, Kangra District At the invitation of the National Centre for
(Himachal Pradesh). Did his schooling from Scientific Research, delivered three lectures at
St. Edward’s School and Law from the Faculty Paris in October 2012.
of Law, Delhi University. Practised in the High
Fond of reading, walking and is an avid
Court of Himachal Pradesh and handled
photographer.
Constitutional, Commercial and Environmental
matters. Elected President of the Himachal Due to retire on 06 May 2020.
Pradesh High Court Bar Association.
Born on 11 May 1957. Did B.A., LL.B. Elevated as Permanent Judge on 14 February
2002. Took oath as Judge of Karnataka High
Enrolled as an Advocate with the U.P. Bar
Court on 16 February 2015. Appointed as the
Council on 28 July 1980. Practiced in the
Chief Justice of the Odisha High Court on 26
Allahabad High Court from 28 July 1980 to 13
February 2016.
February 2002 on the Original, Constitution, Civil
and Criminal sides. Conducted cases for various Appointed as Judge of the Supreme Court of
private and public sector, companies and also India on 07 August 2018.
as special counsel for the Central and State
Due to retire on 10 May 2022.
Governments. Served as Additional Advocate
General for the State of U.P in the year 1995.
Justice K. M. JOSEPH
Born on 17 June 1958. Educated at Kendriya Appointed as Permanent Judge of the High
Vidyalaya, Kochi and New Delhi, Loyola Court of Kerala on 14 October 2004. Appointed
College, Chennai and Govt. Law College, as Chief Justice of Uttarakhand High Court on
Ernakulam. 31 July 2014.
Born on 17 October 1957. Belongs to a family State Legal Services Authority, U.T. Chandigarh
of professionals in law. His grandfather was from July 2012 till January 2016.
a prominent civil lawyer who voluntarily left
Appointed as Judge of Patna High Court on 08
practice at the prime of his professional career
February 2016 and was appointed as Acting
at the age of 65. His father retired as Chief
Chief Justice of that High Court on 29 October
Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court in the
2016. Appointed as Chief Justice of Madhya
year 1991.
Pradesh High Court on 18 March 2017.
Enrolled as an Advocate in July 1980 and
Elevated as Judge of the Supreme Court of
practiced at the High Court after spending
India on 02 November 2018.
initial few years in the District Court. Mainly dealt
with the civil cases. Also worked as Additional Due to retire on 16 October 2022.
Advocate General, Punjab from 1997 to 1999.
Born on 05 January 1957 in an agricultural family University College of Law, Osmania University,
in Kamaram Village of Chinna Shankarampet Hyderabad.
Mandal, Medak District. Son of late Sri R.
Enrolled as an Advocate on the rolls of the
Jagannath Reddy and Smt. R. Vishala Devi.
Bar Council of Andhra Pradesh on 30 October
Had his primary education in Upper Primary 1980 and joined the Chambers of Sri Justice
School and Higher Education in Zilla Parishad B. Subhasan Reddy (As Advocate as he then
High School, Sankarampet, Medak District. was). Actively Practised in Civil, Criminal,
Passed Intermediate and graduation from Constitutional and almost all other branches of
Andhra Vidyalaya College (AV College), Law. Had developed his independent practice
Hyderabad. Obtained Law Degree from the with in short span of time and extensively dealt
with number of cases covering all branches of
Law.
Born on 16 May 1958. Did B.Sc. and LL. B. Worked as Central Government Standing
Counsel and also Special Public Prosecutor for
Enrolled as an Advocate on 19 July 1982 and
C.B.I. in the Gujarat High Court.
practiced in the Gujarat High Court in Civil,
Criminal, Constitutional, Taxation, Labour, Appointed as an Additional Judge of the Gujarat
Service and Company matters and specialized High Court on 07 March 2004 and appointed as
in Land, Constitutional, Education, Excise, Permanent Judge on 22 June 2005.
Custom matters.
Appointed as Chief Justice of Patna High Court
on 12 August 2018.
Born on 15 May 1958 at Udaipur, Rajasthan. Hails Transferred to Allahabad High Court and took
from lawyers’ lineage - grandfather late Shri oath on 19 July 2014. Functioned as Senior
Jagannath Kahalya practiced mainly at Begun, Judge, Lucknow from 03 March 2015.
District Chittorgarh and father late Shri R.C.
Took oath as Chief Justice of High Court of
Maheshwari was a renowned civil side lawyer
Meghalaya on the 24 February 2016 and then,
at Jodhpur.
as Chief Justice of High Court of Karnataka on
Did B.Sc. (Hons.) in physics from Maharaja’s 12 February 2018.
College, Rajasthan University, Jaipur in the year
Elevated as Judge of the Supreme Court of
1977 and LL.B. from Jodhpur University in the
India on 18 January 2019.
year 1980.
Due to retire on 14 May 2023.
Enrolled as an Advocate with Bar Council of
Rajasthan on 08 March 1981. Practised on
Original and Appellate sides before Rajasthan
High Court and its subordinate Courts. Mainly
dealt with Civil and Constitutional matters.
Served as Counsel for Revenue and Excise
Departments of Government of Rajasthan as
also several Local Bodies and Corporations.
Had also been co-opted member on various
Disciplinary Committees of the Bar Council of
Rajasthan.
Born on 14 May 1960. the office of Senior Standing Counsel for the
Income Tax Department and was appointed
Enrolled as an advocate with the Bar Council
as the Standing Counsel (Civil) for the State of
of Delhi in 1983. Began practice in the District
Delhi in 2004.
Courts at Tis Hazari and thereafter primarily
practiced in the High Court of Delhi, in Elevated as an Additional Judge of the Delhi
diverse fields of Constitutional Law, Direct Tax High Court in 2005 and made a Permanent
Appeals, Income Tax prosecutions, Arbitration Judge in 2006.
matters, Commercial Suits, Company Law as
Elevated as Judge of the Supreme Court of
well as cases concerning Environment and
India on 18 January 2019.
Pollution Laws and Medical Negligence. As
an Additional Public Prosecutor and amicus Due to retire on 13 May 2025.
curiae, had argued and appeared in Criminal
Law matters before the High Court. Also held
Justice BHUSHAN RAMKRISHNA GAVAI
Born on 10 February 1962 in a middle-class Started law practice at the District Court in
family in District Hisar in Haryana. Was an avid Hisar in 1984 and later shifted to the Punjab
debater, graduated from the Government Post and Haryana High Court in Chandigarh in 1985
Graduate College, Hisar in 1981 and earned and represented multiple Universities, Boards,
a Bachelor’s Degree in Law from Maharishi Corporations, Banks and also the High Court
Dayanand University, Rohtak in 1984. Earned itself. Specialized in Constitutional, Service
another distinction by standing First Class First and Civil matters. Appointed as the youngest
in his LL.M. from the Directorate of Distance Advocate General of Haryana on 07 July 2000
Education, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra in and was designated as Senior Advocate in
2011. March 2001.
Born on 09 July 1958. Obtained LL.B. degree Limited, Kanpur; Northern Railway Primary
from Allahabad University, Allahabad. Co-operative Bank Limited; U.P. State Textile
Corporation Limited, Kanpur; U.P. Co-operative
Enrolled as an Advocate on 23 December 1981.
Spinning Mills Federation Limited, Kanpur and
Practised in the Allahabad High Court for over 22
Bundelkhand University, Jhansi.
years in Civil, Constitutional, Company, Service
and Revenue matters and has specialised in Appointed as an Additional Judge of the
Civil Revenue and Service cases. Appointed as Allahabad High Court on 07 January 2004
Standing Counsel of U.P. State Yarn Company and appointed as Permanent Judge of the
Allahabad High Court on 18 August 2005.
Born on 01 February 1960. Obtained his LL.B. was produced and this film was used as a
Degree from Campus Law Centre, University of training tool in the Mediation programmes.
Delhi in 1982. Under his leadership the Arunachal Pradesh
Legal Services Authority produced Apne Ajnabi,
Designated as Senior Advocate, by the Gauhati
a short film on the theme of racial prejudice and
High Court on 21 December 2004.
the film is about how legal help can be provided
Appointed as Additional Judge of the Gauhati for the needy under the Legal Services Authority
High Court on 12 October 2006 and served Act, 1987.
as Permanent Judge with effect from 15 July
As the Executive Head of the Assam State Legal
2008. In Assam, while heading the Mediation
Services Authority, had implemented the Reach
Monitoring Committee, the film Shako (Bridge)
Out & Respond programme, to facilitate access
to justice, for the marginalised sections of
Assam. Spearheading the training programmes
for the Judicial Officers under the Gauhati High
Court and was nominated as a member of the
National Judicial Academic Council, headed
by the Chief Justice of India. For about 10 years
the News Letter ATMAN was published regularly
for the Gauhati High Court under his editorship.
Shri Harilal J. Kania, the first Chief Justice of India, 26 December 1800 and on 08 December 1823,
in the inaugural session of the Supreme Court of respectively.
India, had thus observed:
In 1857, there was a formal transfer of power
“The Supreme Court, an all India Court, will stand from the British East India Company to the
firm and aloof from party politics and political British Crown. Thereafter, the Indian High
theories. It is unconcerned with the changes in Courts Act 1861 was enacted to create High
the Government. The Court stands to administer Courts for various provinces and the Supreme
Act No. 55/1956 Chief Justice + 10 Judges = 11 Lok Sabha Bill No.44/1956
Act No. 17/1960 Chief Justice + 13 Judges = 14 Lok Sabha Bill No.V/1960
Act No. 48/1977 Chief Justice + 17 Judges = 18 Lok Sabha Bill No.135/1977
Act No. 22/1986 Chief Justice + 25 Judges = 26 Lok Sabha Bill No.157/1985
Act No. 11/2009 Chief Justice + 30 Judges = 31 Lok Sabha Bill No.41/2008
Act No. 37 /2019 Chief Justice + 33 Judges = 34 Lok Sabha Bill No. 191-F/2019
Date of Date of
S. Held Office
Name Appointment in Appointment
No. Till
Supreme Court as C.J.I
1. Hon’ble Mr.Justice Harilal Jekisundas Kania 26/01/1950 26/01/1950 06/11/1951*
41. Hon’ble Mr. Justice Rajendra Mal Lodha 17/12/2008 27/04/2014 27/09/2014
48
42. Hon’ble Mr. Justice H.L. Dattu 17/12/2008 28/09/2014 02/12/2015
S. Date of
Name of the Hon’ble Judge Held Office Till
No. Appointment
1. Hon’ble Mr. Justice Sir Syed Fazl Ali 26/01/1950 18/09/1951
2. Hon’ble Mr. Justice N. Chandrasekhara Aiyar 23/09/1950 24/01/1953
3. Hon’ble Mr. Justice Vivian Bose 05/03/1951 08/06/1956
4. Hon’ble Mr. Justice Ghulam Hasan 08/09/1952 05/11/1954*
5. Hon’ble Mr. Justice Natwarlal Harilal Bhagwati 08/09/1952 06/08/1959
6. Hon’ble Mr. Justice B. Jagannadhadas 09/03/1953 26/07/1958
7. Hon’ble Mr. Justice T.L. Venkatarama Aiyyar 04/01/1954 24/11/1958
8. Hon’ble Mr. Justice Syed Jaffer Imam 10/01/1955 31/01/1964**
9. Hon’ble Mr. Justice S.K. Das 30/04/1956 02/09/1963
10. Hon’ble Mr. Justice P. Govinda Menon 01/09/1956 16/10/1957*
11. Hon’ble Mr. Justice J.L. Kapur 14/01/1957 12/12/1962
12. Hon’ble Mr. Justice K.C. Das Gupta 24/08/1959 02/01/1965
13. Hon’ble Mr. Justice Raghubar Dayal 27/07/1960 25/10/1965
The jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of India can The Supreme Court can also transfer to itself
be primarily classified as - Original, Appellate any case involving same or substantially same
and Advisory Jurisdiction. questions of law pending before it and one
or more High Courts in certain contingencies
ORIGINAL JURISDICTION as per the provisions under Article 139A of the
The exclusive Original Jurisdiction, conferred by Constitution. ‘The Appointment of Arbitrators
Article 131 of the Constitution of India, extends by the Chief Justice of India Scheme, 1996’
to any legal dispute between the Government framed under Section 11(10) of the Arbitration
of India and one or more States, or between the and Conciliation Act, 1996 regulates the
B) Power of Review: The Supreme Court (ii) Supreme Court Rules, 2013;
under Article 137 of the Constitution (iii) Supreme Court (Decree and Orders) 59
of India has the power to review any Enforcement Order, 1954;
judgment pronounced, or any order
made by it. Review Petitions are disposed (iv) Supreme Court Judges Rules, 1959;
of by circulation as per listing procedures. (v) Supreme Court Judges (Travelling
However, in death sentence cases, oral Allowance) Rules, 1959; and
hearing has been made permissible,
(vi) Rules to Regulate Proceedings for
limited to 30 minutes as per the verdict
Contempt of the Supreme Court, 1975.
in Sonu Sardar v. Union of India [2014 (9)
SCC 737].
On 28 January 1950, two days after India The design of the Original building itself is in the
62
3. Inauguration of Additional
Building Complex of Supreme
There is a beautiful mural of coloured porcelain
tiles in the Judges Gallery, with the Goddess Court of India
of Justice on the right side and Mahatma In order to cope up with the space constraints
Gandhi, the Father of our Nation, on the left in the main campus, need for an additional
side. The Goddess of Justice is in white robes Complex was felt. Additional Office of the
63
Inauguration of the Additional Building Complex, Supreme Court by His Excellency, the President of India
European style pillars that rise from the ground on 17 July 2019.
level in the colour scheme and the sandstone
In his address, the President of India said
external cladding depicts that an attempt has
that the broader spirit behind the Additional
been made in design of this building to retain
Building Complex of the Supreme Court must
the original marvel of the Supreme Court.
be appreciated. His Excellency said that no
The additional building complex has been doubt the Additional Building Complex for the
designed to maximize the use of available Supreme Court will “lead to greater comfort for
sunlight, air and water. The complex will produce judges, lawyers, litigants and others connected
solar power of 1400 KWP which will be integrated with the court and court matters” but “much
in the main Grid. This project has been designed more than physical ease, such infrastructure
as GRIHA (Green Rating for Integrated Habitat should provide benefits in enhancing efficiency
Assessment) compliant rated energy efficient and speed of adjudication, disposal of cases
Building Complex. This new Building has Five and delivery of justice.” On the occasion, the
Functional Blocks and one Service Block. Hon’ble the Chief Justice of India said that “the
commitment of this Institution to the call for
Library Block - Block-A
justice can and does have no compromise.” His
Judicial Block - Block-B
Lordship cautioned that “history has witnessed
Convention Centre - Block-C
how great institutions have been brought to the
64
66
67
68
I. SUPREME COURT REGISTRY – MAIN of Additional District and Sessions Judge are
WINGS drawn on deputation. The Secretary General
is assisted by 10 Registrars, 3 Officers on Special
The administrative wing of the Supreme Court is Duty and 25 Additional Registrars who are
known as the Registry. For systematic functioning assigned work of specific branches and they, in
and efficient disposal of work, the Registry is turn, are assisted by Deputy Registrars, Officers
the administrative powers for determining the S. No. Type of Posts No. of Posts
of the Apex Court and also for setting up the 2 Non-Gazetted officials 1117
There are 16 Sections dealing with the The minimum educational qualifications and
matters pertaining to the establishment, other eligibility conditions prescribed for each
which includes Admn. I, Admn. II, Admn. III, and every post have been specified in the
Recruitment Cell, Training Cell, Vigilance Schedule to the 1961 Rules. Manuals also
Cell, Admn. Materials (Purchase & Stores), contain the nature of duties and responsibilities
Admn. Materials (Maintenance), Admn. of the officers and employees.
General, Cash and Accounts-I & II, Admn. J,
II. SPECIALISED SECRETARIATS
Protocol, Medical, Transport and Caretaking.
Admn. I and Recruitment Cell Sections deals a) Conference Secretariat: The progress
with recruitment, promotions etc. Admn. II made by all the High Courts for the
Section deals with leave, pay and pension of implementation of the resolutions adopted
officers and staff. Admn. III Section deals with in the Chief Justices Conference of Chief
all types of advances admissible to officers Justices is reviewed and noted in the next
and staff. Admn. Materials (Purchase & Stores) conference of Chief Justices. During the
Section deals with purchase and issue of all items Chief Justices Conference 2016, it was
including Stationery, Furniture, Livery and Printing resolved that Chief Justices will set up
etc. Admn. Materials (Maintenance) deals a Cell or Committee for monitoring the
with the maintenance of all the items, award implementation of the resolution passed
of annual maintenance contract and other in the Chief Justices’ Conference. Each
70 miscellaneous work. Admn. General Section High Court was to create a mechanism
deals with maintenance of Supreme Court for submitting progress reports to the
Building and allotment of Lawyers’ Chambers Supreme Court on the implementation
etc. Admn. Judges Section looks after the of the resolution by periodically updating
provision of necessary amenities to the Hon’ble feedback formats. The Conference further
Judges and overall housekeeping job, including resolved to affirm desirability of creating a
the work connected with maintenance of the mini Secretariat for tracking the progress
Judges’ Chambers in the Supreme Court and made in implementing the resolutions.
their official residences. Protocol Section renders
Sanjeev S. Kalgaonkar
REGISTRARS*
74
75
H. K. Juneja B. Hari
76
S. N. Joshi
The activities of the Registry can be conveniently one of the several initiative was taken in May
divided into two broad categories– 2017 with the introduction of an Integrated
Administrative Wing and Judicial Wing. Case Management Information System (ICMIS).
The same was inaugurated on 10 May 2017 by
The Judicial Wing is responsible for case
Hon’ble the Prime Minister of India in a glittering
management, from filing stage to disposal, and
function attended by Hon’ble the then CJI,
consignment of record. Judicial Wing functions
Hon’ble Judges and other dignitaries. This system
through its 23 Sections and the division of work
is not only transparent and dynamic but also
between them is based either on its nature, that
Proceedings in Part-II case file was are listed on Monday in the next
1964 2544 1520 4064 2463 1605 4068 848 1658 2506
1965 2366 1535 3901 2444 1341 3785 770 1852 2622
1966 2639 3012 5651 2429 1412 3841 980 3452 4432
1967 2826 2493 5319 2515 1566 4081 1291 4379 5670
1968 3489 3317 6806 3138 3032 6170 1642 4664 6306
1969 4185 3512 7697 3731 2737 6468 2096 5439 7535
1970 4273 3203 7476 3779 2569 6348 2590 6073 8663
1971 5338 2641 7979 4588 1903 6491 3340 6811 10151
1972 4853 4223 9076 5053 1769 6822 3140 9265 12405
1973 6298 3876 10174 6112 2063 8175 3326 11078 14404
1974 5423 2780 8203 5103 3158 8261 3646 10700 14346
1975 6192 3336 9528 5749 2978 8727 4089 11058 15147
1976 5549 2705 8254 4904 2830 7734 4734 10933 15667
1977 9251 5250 14501 8714 1681 10395 5271 14502 19773
1978 13723 7117 20840 10624 6471 17095 8370 15148 23518
80 1979 16088 4666 20754 11988 3845 15833 12470 15969 28439
1980 21749 4616 26365 14520 2433 16953 19699 18152 37851
1981 24474 6566 31040 16528 2162 18690 27645 22556 50201
1982 29706 13804 43510 26593 2519 29112 30758 33841 64599
1983 37602 18300 55902 35745 10079 45824 32615 42062 74677
1984 37799 11275 49074 28813 6734 35547 41601 46603 88204
1985 36243 15349 51592 36004 15074 51078 41840 46878 88718
* The pendency figures shown up to the year 1992 indicates the number of matters after expanded hypenated number on files.
* From 1993 onwards the figures of pendency of matters are actual file-wise, that is, without expanding hyphenated number on
files.
January-2019 3789 893 4682 3450 549 3999 36786 21243 58029
February-2019 3138 671 3809 3114 939 4053 36810 20975 57785
March-2019 2543 834 3377 2355 735 3090 36998 21074 58072
April-2019 3091 1157 4248 3233 919 4152 36856 21312 58168
May-2019 2902 136 3038 2003 534 2537 37755 20914 58669
July-2019 4012 1569 5581 4793 1192 5985 38201 21090 59291
January-2019 3358 1324 4682 2783 1216 3999 47265 10764 58029
February-2019 2765 1044 3809 2803 1250 4053 47227 10558 57785
March-2019 2481 896 3377 2027 1063 3090 47681 10391 58072
April-2019 3069 1179 4248 2667 1485 4152 48083 10085 58168
May-2019 2143 895 3038 1618 919 2537 48608 10061 58669
June-2019 817 627 1444 117 301 418 49308 10387 59695
82 July-2019 4105 1476 5581 3956 2029 5985 49457 9834 59291
August-2019 2923 1164 4087 3576 186 3762 48804 10812 59616
September-2019 2598 1608 4206 2556 1471 4027 48846 10949 59795
October-2019 1817 885 2702 1862 768 2630 48801 11066 59867
Annual Report
Part 1 SUPREME Court of India Judicial Wing
84
Annual Report
2018-2019
Letters/Petitions and Writ Petitions (Civil and Criminal) Received/Filed
under PIL in the Supreme Court of India
Under Order VI, Rule 1 of the Supreme Court (a) Proviso has been added to clause (c) of the
Rules, 2013, matters shall be heard by a Bench Order IV Rule 1, to exempt the advocate,
of not less than two judges. However, with the who wants to appear and argue the
newly inserted proviso to Order VI Rule I, the case in person, from the requirement of
following categories of matters may be heard interaction by the concerned Registrar.
and disposed of finally by a Judge sitting singly
(b) Rule 3 of Order XIII has been amended
nominated by the Chief Justice:
to enable an advocate who argued the
(i) Special leave petitions arising out of grant, matter or an advocate authorised by
dismissal or rejection of Bail Application the Advocate-on-Record in the case, to
or Anticipatory Bail Application in the apply for certified copy of the Orders/ 87
matters filed against the order passed Judgments or documents.
under Section 437, Section 438 or Section
(c) Amendments have been incorporated in
439 of the Code of Criminal Procedure,
the relevant Rules to enable the petitioner
1973 (2 of 1974) involving the offences
to initially file only one spare set of the
punishable with sentence up to seven
petition and of the accompanying papers
years imprisonment;
so as to avoid unnecessary wastage
XXI, Rule 3(1) (d) (iii) to substitute the arising on account of language. Further, the
requirement of filing “English version of translated judgements in vernacular languages
the relevant provisions of the Constitution, would make the litigants more conversant with
statutes, ordinances” by the requirement the judicial dispensation and would enable
of filing “English version of the relevant them also to know, in right earnest, about the
provisions of the State Acts, and proceedings and submissions made in the
Ordinances”. Supreme Court by the advocates on both sides
through the judgments of the Supreme Court.
(f) Explanatory note 1 to Part II, Third
Schedule has been omitted in order to The following subject categories of cases have
waive payment of additional Court Fee been identified for the purpose of translation,
by the petitioner/ appellant in respect of as the litigants in relation to these categories
matters on Caveat. of cases, by and large, belong either to the
lower or middle strata of the society and are
II. Translation of the Supreme
considered to be not well-versed with English
Court Judgments into language.
Vernacular Languages
1] Labour matters;
Article 348 of the Constitution envisages that,
88 until Parliament by law otherwise provides, all 2] Rent Act matters;
proceedings in the Supreme Court and in every
3] Land Acquisition and Requisition matters;
High Court shall be in the English language. The
Judiciary at the State level is functioning under 4] Service matters;
25 High Courts.
5] Compensation matters;
For the first time in the history of the Supreme
6] Criminal matters;
Court, ever since it’s constitution after
89
During the Book release of “Courts of India: Past to present” at Pragiyotish ITA Centre, Guwahati
92
The Advocates Act, 1961 provides two The Bar Council of India consists of members
categories of Advocates – Senior Advocates and elected from each State Bar Council, and the
other advocates, who are entitled to practice Attorney General of India and the Solicitor
law before the Courts. The exercise of powers General of India who are ex-officio members.
vested in the Supreme Court and the High The members from the State Bar Councils are
Courts to designate an Advocate as a Senior elected for a period of five years. The Council
Advocate is circumcised by the requirement of elects its own Chairman and Vice-Chairman
due satisfaction that the advocate concerned for a period of two years from amongst its
fulfils the qualifications prescribed under the members. Eligible persons are admitted as
93
Advocates Act, 1961. In terms of Section 16 advocates on the rolls of the State Bar Councils.
of the Advocates Act, 1961, an advocate The Advocates Act, 1961 empowers State Bar
may, with his consent, be designated as senior Councils to frame their own rules regarding
advocate if the Supreme Court or a High Court enrolment of advocates.
is of opinion that by virtue of his ability [standing
at the Bar or special knowledge or experience
Bar Council of India Rules, 1975
in law] he is deserving of such distinction. The Bar Council of India Rules, 1975 have been
made by the Bar Council of India in exercise of its
95
Supreme Court Judges Library, established with to approximately 185 journals (145 Indian and
the Federal Court of India in the year 1937, is 40 Foreign journals). It is also subscribing to 20
one of the largest Law Library in Asia. It takes newspapers and 8 magazines.
care of the multifarious literature requirements
LIBRARY AUTOMATION
of the Hon’ble Judges and Court functionaries.
The Supreme Court Museum on the other hand KOHA, an Open Source Library Automation
Current Awareness Services A “Home page” of the Judges’ Library has been
developed for providing free access to legal
Legal Write-ups on desired topics
fraternity on the website of the Court (www.
Newspaper Clippings sci.gov.in) for access to digital resources of the
Information Consolidation Services library, which provides access to the In-house
Databases developed by the library. It also
PUBLICATIONS provides access to the Open Source Websites of
the foreign jurisdictions to retrieve the legislations
For Current Awareness of the Hon’ble Judges,
98 the Library compiles many publications, such as:
and case laws of foreign countries. Access to
more than 60 free online journals has also been
Accession List (Quarterly) provided on this Home page. The main In-house
Databases developed by the library, which can
Library Catalogue Supplement (Annual)
be accessed through this Home page are:
Current Contents (Monthly)
SUPLIS: Database of Case Laws
Newsletter (Monthly)
SUPLIS is an indexing database of case
laws decided by the Hon’ble Supreme
100
ii) Digital Law Library: iii) National Legal Information System (NLIS):
101
102
for Arts, Janpath, New Delhi. students from across the country.
104
The Registry has embarked on creating value of this initiative has enabled access to
for all the stakeholders, and has evolved by reliable data and statistics, effective
12. Original Record uploading facility: (i) System and application software for court
processes: After rolling out National Core
a) High Courts/ Subordinate Courts are
Version of CIS 3.0, all the District and
enabled for uploading digital (pdf)
Taluka Courts completed migration and
files of Original Records.
23 High Courts also migrated to National
b) Defects noticed in a particular case Core HC CIS 1.0. Thereafter one more
is readily available for litigants under version CIS 3.1 was rolled out mostly for
head defect notification. ICJS, eFiling, sharing APIs etc. The Courts
then migrated to CIS 3.1. After rolling
13. Collection and Collation of POCSO Data:
out National Core versions of CIS HC
Under directions of Hon’ble Bench led
1.0, vertical integration with CIS DC 3.1
by Hon’ble the Chief Justice of India,
was achieved and horizontal integration
Registry initiated the process of collection
for transfer of a case from one district
and collation of 2.24 Lakh POCSO Cases
to another became reality. India in real
from 650 Judicial Districts in the Country. A
sense has unified under one umbrella of
secured software interface was created
National Core Case Information System
by the Computer Cell for this purpose.
(NCCIS) which is unique in the world.
14. New Data Centre: Upon inauguration of 107
(ii) Video Conferencing for the Courts with
Additional Building Complex, Registry
Jails: Training programs for use of VC was
is in the process of establishing State of
organized for Judicial Officers, Jail Officials
the Art Robust Data Centre which will
and Prosecutors at Police Training Centre,
strive to achieve standards akin to ISO
Ghaziabad and four other places. There
27001. The Data Centre would be of such
has been huge increase in use of VC
configuration that it shall support the
in the year 2017, 2018 and in the year
paperless functioning of Supreme Court
2019. In the year 2019 there were 28,262
110
111
112
The Indian Law Institute (ILI) is a premier legal other legal resources. It contains around
research Institute founded on 27 December 82500 volumes and receives about
1956. The first President of India Dr. Rajendra 190 current legal periodicals including
Prasad formally inaugurated the opening of serial publications. Digitisation of rare
Institute on 12 December 1957 in the Central Hall documents and Institute’s publications
of Parliament, New Delhi which was witnessed are done on regular basis and placed
by the first Prime Minister of India Pt. Jawahar Lal in the repository for access by public at
Nehru and Hon’ble Mr. Justice S. R. Dave, the large. The library of the Institute has shared
then Chief Justice of India. Hon’ble Chief Justice its Institutional repository at the coveted
of India is the Ex-officio President of the Institute. National Digital Library platform (NDL)
The Law Minister of the Union Government is the which is the brain child of the MHRD-NME-
Ex-officio Vice President. The prime objective of ICT.
the Institute is to promote advanced studies and
b) Research Publications Released: The
research in law and to contribute substantially in
following research publications have
reforming the administration of Justice, so as to
been released by the ILI during the period
meet the socio economic aspirations through
of report:
law and its instrumentalities.
• Journal of the Indian Law Institute
ILI was granted Deemed University status in 2004 (JILI) – Published quarterly containing
vide Government of India, Ministry of Human research articles on contemporary
Resource Development Notification No.F.9- legal issues of National/International
9/2001-U.3 dated 29 October 2004. ILI has been Importance.
accredited with ‘A’ Grade (CGPA 3.35 out of
• ILI Newsletter – Published quarterly
114 4.00) by NAAC in March 2017. After the visit and
referring various activities undertaken
review by the UGC Expert Committee, the UGC
by the Institute during the year and
approved the inclusion of Indian Law Institute
forthcoming activities.
u/s 12B of the UGC Act in June 2018. The Indian
Law Institute was granted Graded Autonomy • Index to Legal Periodicals – Published
by University Grants Commission during the yearly and contains indexes,
year 2017, among 60 other Institutions of Higher periodicals (including year books and
Learning. The Institute is conducting Masters in other annual publications) pertaining
Law and Doctoral courses. It also has four PG to law and related fields being
Law including latest trends in every and presided over the Seminar.
• ILI Law Review (Summer) & (Winter) 28 August 2019): The ILI organised
a visit of officials from office of the
c) Books:-
Attorney general of Nepal on 25-
• Dispelling Rhetorics Law of Divorce 28 August 2019 for upgrading their
and Gender Inequality in Islam knowledge on Attorney system in
x) Two days National Seminar on “100 xiii) One Day International Seminar on
years of ILO and Future of Work: Protection of Women and Children
Labour Policy (13-14 March 2019): The Rights : Issues & Challenges (12
National Labour Law Association and January 2019): The Indian Law Institute
Indian Law Institute jointly organized in collaboration with the Rajiv Gandhi
Number of Programmes
S. No. Name of the Programme
Conducted
1. 40 Hrs Mediation Training Programme (40 Hrs Mtp) 44
5. Awareness Programme 1
Total 141
• Course on Developing Advanced Training each High Court, have also been constituted.
Skills for Potential Trainers Programme District Legal Services Authorities, Taluk Legal
Services Committees have been constituted in
The MCPC has introduced two new programmes
the Districts and most of the Taluks to give effect
in 2018-2019 namely:
to the policies and directions of the NALSA and
• 5 Day Intensive Training Programme for to provide free legal services to the people and
Potential Trainers. to conduct Lok Adalats in the state. The Chief
(b) Campaigns for women prisoners: remission rights of the convicts, etc. During
the campaign, 88,372 convicts were
In 2018, a Pan India Campaign was
made aware about the availability of
conducted for women prisoners and their
free legal services, 20,725 convicts were
children accompanying them in prisons.
apprised about the status of their appeals
The teams had one to one interaction
and around 2,500 appeals were filed
with 91% of the women prisoners i.e. 14,788
through legal aid.
women prisoners. The campaign also saw
the selection of 450 women inmates to be (d) Door to door campaign:
trained as Para Legal Volunteers (“PLV’s”).
This ten day campaign aimed at making
5,089 women inmates were connected to
the weaker and marginalized sections of
vocational trainings/educational courses.
the society aware about the existence of
987 medical camps were organised.
Legal Services Institutions and availability
145 women inmates were found to be
of free legal services. Besides, the
pregnant, and accordingly made aware
campaign also aimed at disseminating
about their legal rights. In certain cases
information in regard to Legal Services
bail applications were also filed on their
Clinics, Front Offices and legal aid helpline
behalf. In total, 2,088 legal awareness
numbers amongst the masses. During this
camps were held and 2,942 inmates were
provided legal aid during the campaign.
Campaign - 123
66,010 villages/ urban areas were
(c) Campaign for Convicts:
covered.
This pan India campaign was launched
39.68 lakh persons were informed about
with the objectives to secure rights of
the availability of free legal services.
appeal of the convicts, to ensure that
their incarceration does not go beyond 3.91 lakh persons were identified who
the period of their imprisonment or after were in need of free legal services, and
remission, to secure parole, furlough and accordingly legal services were provided.
(e) Nationwide Campaign for Legal May 2019 with the objective to address
Assistance to Family Members of the the legal, socio-legal and psychological
Prisoners: issues of the family members of the
incarcerated persons who have been in
A nationwide campaign for the
prison for a considerable amount of time.
dependents of the prisoners was
The total duration of the campaign was
124 undertaken by NALSA through all the
for a period of 3 months
State Legal Services Authorities w.e.f. 01
Outcome of Stage 1:
1,57,206 55,985
Interaction sheets Interaction was Families in need of aid No. of family members
received carried out and services who need legal aid
39710 25873 16097 11315
Family members provided Family members in need other Family members provided
legal aid services / assistance other services / assistance
(f) Jail Legal Services Clinics: pending cases. There are 335 Permanent
Lok Adalats for public utility services
During the period July 2018 to July 2019,
functioning across the country. During
1,085 Legal Services Clinics in Jails were
the period 1 July 2018 to 31 July 2019,
operational across the country. Around
about 1,18,456 cases were settled by
696 legal services were computerized.
NALSA has prepared three training The 31st Central Authority Meeting of
modules for panel lawyers and one the National Legal Services Authority
training module for probation officers was held on 20 July 2019 at Additional
and legal services lawyers attached to Building Complex, Supreme Court of
the JJBs. Training Module Part 3 for the India. Hon’ble Mr. Justice Ranjan Gogoi,
Panel Lawyers was released in the year the then Chief Justice of India & Patron-
2018. During the period July 2018 - July in-Chief, National Legal Services Authority
2019, 1,224 training programmes were Chaired the meeting along with Hon’ble
conducted for panel lawyers. Similarly Mr. Justice Sharad A. Bobde, Judge,
for the training of the PLV’s, 1,636 training Supreme Court of India & Executive
programmes were conducted. Chairman, NALSA. In this meet, NALSA’s
protocol ‘ Early Access to Justice at Pre-
(l) Legal Literacy Clubs in Schools:
Arrest, Arrest and Remand Stage’ was
The State Legal Services Authorities decided to be implemented across the
Part 1 SUPREME Court of India Alternative Dispute Resolution
126
17th All India Meet of State Legal Services Authorities held at Nagpur in the presence of Hon’ble Mr. Justice Sharad A. Bobde
(o) Round Table Consultation with Legal (q) State Level Meet of DLSAs of Jharkhand:
Services Authorities on 26 – 27 July 2018 at
Jharkhand SLSA organised a State Level
New Delhi:
Meet of DLSAson 22 September 2019
A Round Table Consultation with the at Ranchi, on the issues of enhancing
Member Secretaries of all the State legal representation, outreach activities,
Legal Services Authorities was organized budget preparation and utilisation
by NALSA in the framework of its of budget, complaint redressal and
programmatic activities on Access to maintenance of data etc.,
Justice which was held on 26th and 27th
(r) Training of Secretaries and staffs of HCLSC/
July, 2018. Some of the key takeaways of
DLSA/SDLSA:
the Consultation were: (i) To periodically
evaluate the court based legal services Jharkhand SLSA organised Training
and to promulgate and adopt changes of Secretaries and Staff of HCLSC/
for its improvement; (ii) To clarify, define DLSA/SDLSA for online Legal Services 127
and expand the role of Retainer Lawyers Management System for application/
and to adequately utilize their services grievance redressal and data entry
beyond the Front Offices; (iii) To improve system on the NALSA web portal on 23
the operational framework of the Front September 2019 at Ranchi.
Offices so that it works as a One Stop
(s) Internship programs:
Centre for legal aid beneficiaries; (iv)
To make operational Legal Aid Helpline NALSA also organized internship
numbers at District and State Level; (v) programmes for law students from
To strengthen and improve the court activities and programmes. The following
based legal services the following steps topics were finalised: (i) Evaluation of
have been taken: (i) Amendments in practice and procedure of empanelment,
NALSA (Free and Competent Legal capacity building, engagement and
Services) Regulations, 2010 have been management of lawyers empanelled with
approved for ensuring the selection Legal Services Authorities; (ii) Evaluation
of capable lawyers and changing the of the functional management and the
structure of monitoring committees to impact, quality and effectiveness of legal
Monitoring and Mentoring Committees; services rendered through Front Offices
(ii) To ensure that legal aid beneficiaries and Legal Services Clinics; (iii) Evaluation
do not have to run from one place to and impact assessment of Para Legal
another, front office guidelines have Volunteers Scheme; (iv) Evaluation
been devised and circulated by NALSA and impact assessment of preventive,
to make front office as One Stop Centre strategic and outreach access to justice
for legal aid beneficiaries. Some of the programmes for marginalized sections of
key points of guidelines are: Maintaining society; and (v) Evaluation of legal aid
daily cause list of legal aided cases; Daily provided in Civil and Criminal matters in
updating of the proceedings of the legal Courts, Tribunals, Quasi-judicial bodies
aided cases; Legal Aid Helpline number and jails.
was to be made fully functional in front
(i) Commendation Ceremony of Best PLVs,
offices; Feedback to be given to legal
Panel Lawyers, DLSAs&SLSAs held on
aid beneficiaries about the status of their
15 December 2018: NALSA organised
cases; Legal advice and assistance; and
128 a ‘Commendation Ceremony’ at
Drafting of applications, notices, replies
VigyanBhawan, Delhi on 15 December
etc. on behalf of the aid seekers.
2018. The event was aimed at felicitating
(g) Participation in Expert Group Meeting at the best SLSA, DLSA, Panel Lawyer and
UNODC, Vienna: Para Legal Volunteer (PLV) in the country.
Awards were presented to the best PLV,
NALSA participated in an Expert Group
Panel Lawyer, SLSA and DLSA of different
Meeting for Framing, Establishing
states in both zonal as well as, at the
and Monitoring Quality of Legal Aid
National Level.
Services in Criminal Justice Processes
Legal Aid & Advice (July 2018 – August 2. Total participants of the such camps
2019) = 2,30,19,354
of legal aid to the litigants is subject to be rejected, for the reasons to be recorded in
eligibility and merits of the case. writing, by the Secretary. Regulation 12(5) states
that in case of refusal for the grant of legal
As per Regulation 11(1) of the SCLSC Regulations,
services, the Secretary shall inform the applicant
1996 any person deserving legal service
in writing of such refusal. Regulation 12(6) states
for bringing or defending any action in the
that the applicant whose application for grant
Supreme Court may make application in writing
of legal services has been rejected may prefer
to the Secretary, SCLSC in the prescribed form
an appeal before the Chairman for a decision.
available in the office and also on the website
of the SCLSC. The applicant is further required As on date, the SCLSC has provided legal
to attach documents viz. certified copy of the services to 20463 litigants. As per Order of the
High Court, High Court paper book and other Court “No court fee or process fee or copying
relevant documents alongwith the application fee shall be chargeable in respect of matters
forms. As per Regulation 12 (1) of SCLSC filed in this Court through the Supreme Court
Regulations, 1996, on receipt of an application Legal Services Committee.”
for legal service mentioned in Regulation 11,
The Supreme Court Legal Services Committee
the Secretary shall first cause the eligibility of
has a video conferencing facility, through which
the applicant as per the provisions of the Act
panel advocates of SCLSC directly contact
read with the rules examined and determined.
with the convict languishing in various jails.
The SCLSC has 28 Screening Committees to
The Supreme Court of India vide Judgement
determine the merits of the case.
dated 14 August 2018 in SLP (Crl.) NO. 6740
Regulation 12(2) of the SCLSC Regulations, 1996 of 2018 Imtiyaz Ramzan Khan Vs. State of
further states that if the applicant satisfies the Maharashtra has categorically directed “all the
130
eligibility criteria, the Secretary shall proceed Legal Services Authorities/Committee in every
to examine the merit of his application. For State to extend similar such facility of video
examining the merits of the application, the conferencing between the counsel on one
Secretary may take the assistance of Legal hand and the accused or anybody in the know
Services Advocates or other advocate willing of the matter on the other, so that the cause of
to provide free legal advice. The Secretary justice is well served.”
131
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Sharad A. Bobde at the IX St. Petersburg International Legal Forum held in St. Petersburg, Russia
132
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Sharad A. Bobde at the J20: The Judicial Conference of the
Highest Courts of the G20 held in Buenous Aires, Argentina
9. Hon’ble Mr. Justice L. Nageswara 12. Hon’ble Mr. Justice M. R. Shah participated
Rao participated in the International in the XIV Meeting of Chairmen and
Conference on “Constitutional Identity Chief Justices of the Supreme Courts
and Universal Values: the Art of Balance” of Shanghai Cooperation Organization
and IX St. Petersburg International Legal Member States held in Sochi (Russia) from
Forum held in St. Petersburg (Russia) from 17 – 19 June 2019.
14 – 18 May 2019.
P ROGRAMME S / C ONFEREN C E S /
10. Hon’ble Mr. Justice Mohan M. MEETINGS/CHAIRED OR ATTENDED BY
Shantanagoudar participated in Fourth HON’BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE OF INDIA
Annual Judges Workshop of International AND HON’BLE JUDGES IN INDIA
Trademark Association (INTA) at INTA’s
Annual Meeting held in Boston (USA) on 1. Hon’ble Shri Ranjan Gogoi, the then
19 May 2019. Chief Justice of India visited Amaravati
to Inaugurate the High Court Building of
11. Hon’ble Mr. Justice Deepak Gupta (i)
133
Andhra Pradesh on 3 February 2019.
participated in 31st LAWASIA Conference
held in Siem Reap (Cambodia) from 2 – 2. Hon’ble Shri Dipak Misra, the then
5 November 2018; and (ii) participated Chief Justice of India (i) delivered the
in a Learning Exchange Programme Presidential Address at the V.R. Krishna
with focus on the reform of Care and Iyer Memorial Lecture 2018 organized
Protection services for children held in by the Delhi Chapter of the Sarada
Krishna Satgamaya Foundation for
Bucharest (Romania) from 13 – 17 May
Law and Justice at New Delhi on 10
2019.
Opportunities” organized by the National attend the 13th Convocation of the West
Judicial Academy in collaboration Bengal National University of Juridical
with the Rajasthan High Court and the Sciences on 3 February 2019.
Rajasthan State Judicial Academy on 27
6. Hon’ble Mr. Justice Sharad A. Bobde
– 28 October 2018.
visited (i) Guwahati to attend a book
5. Hon’ble Mr. Justice Arjan Kumar Sikri (since launch function at Gauhati High Court
retired) visited (i) Bengaluru to deliver a on 24 August 2018; (ii) Nagpur to attend
lecture organized by the National Law “Second G.L. Sanghi Memorial Lecture”
School of India University on 4 August on 31 August 2018; (iii) Chennai to
2018; (ii) Amritsar to attend the National attend the Ninth Convocation of the
Tax Conference ‘AMRIT’ organized by Tamil Nadu Dr. Ambedkar Law University
All India Federation of Tax Practitioners on 8 September 2018; (iv) Dimapur to
in collaboration with GST Practitioners, inaugurate the Mediation Centre at the
Amritsar and District Tax Bar Association Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench on 1
on 11 August 2018; (iii) Patiala to deliver December 2018; (v) Bhopal to attend the
the Convocation Address at the Fourth Meeting of Hon’ble Judges In-charge of
Convocation of the Rajiv Gandhi National Judicial Education and Directors of State
University of Law on 25 August 2018; (iv) Judicial Academies at National Judicial
Hyderabad to attend Justice M.R.A. Ansari Academy on 12 – 14 April 2019; and (vi)
136 Memorial Lecture on 18 August 2018; (v) Jabalpur to attend the Silver Jubilee
Jaipur to inaugurate the “4th Manipal Celebration of the Madhya Pradesh State
Ranka National Moot Court Competition Judicial Academy on 27 April 2019.
2018” organized by Manipal University on
7. Hon’ble Mr. Justice N.V. Ramana visited
29 September 2018; (vi) Nagpur to deliver
(i) Puttaparthi (Andhra Pradesh) to
the 2nd G.L. Sanghi Memorial Lecture
participate in the Conference on “Human
organized by Maharashtra National Law
Values and the Legal World” at Prashanti
University on 31 August 2018; (vii) Shimla
Nilayam on 11 August 2018; (ii) Amaravati
to deliver Seventh Lala Amar Chand Sood
to Inaugurate the High Court Building
Memorial Lecture organized by the Bar
Delhi on 8 December 2018; (ii) delivered of Tax Practitioners, etc. etc. at Prayag
the Justice K T Desai Lecture on ‘Why the Raj Tax Conference, Auditorium of the
Constitution matters’ organized by the Bishop Johnson School, Mahatma Gandhi
Justice K T Desai Centenary Committee Marg, Allahabad on 24 November 2018;
on 17 December 2018 at the Bombay and (c) to deliver Speech on initiation of
High Court; (iii) presided over the XI Five Year Integrated Law Course in the
Convocation of Gujarat National Law C.M.P. Degree College on 24 November
University in Ahmedabad as the Chief 2018; (ii) Ghaziabad (U.P.) to Inaugurate
Guest on 27 January 2019 and delivered the Seminar and Speech on the theme
the Convocation address; (iv) attended a of ‘GST: Successes, failures, and what
session on ‘Gender, Sexuality and Human next.’ organized by Mahanagar Tax
Rights’ as a panelist at the 1st LAWASIA Bar Association (Regd.) at IMS University
Human Rights Conference hosted by the Campus, NH-24, Opp. Inmantac College
Bar Association of India on 9 February on 1 December 2018; (iii) Pune to attend
2019; (v) delivered the keynote address Inaugural programme of “Justice P.B.
at the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival in Mumbai Sawant Sixth National Moot Court
on 9 February 2019; (vi) delivered the Sixth Competition-2019” at Shankar Rao
M K Nambyar Endowment Lecture on Chavan Law College, Kale Hall, Gokhle
‘Inventing and Reinventing Constitutional Institute of Politics & Economics, 202/A
Identity’ organized by the West Bengal Deccan Gymkhana, Pune-411004 on 2
138 National University of Juridical Sciences February 2019; and (iv) Chandigarh to
on 2 March 2019; (vii) delivered the WWF address as Chief Guest in Conference on
Green Law Lecture on ‘Environmental “Public Accountability of Judicial System”
Justice and the Rule of Law: Role of the organized by Assn. of retired Judges
Judiciary and the Judges’ organized by and Supreme Court and High Courts at
the World Wildlife Fund along with O P Chandigarh Judicial Academy, on 27
Jindal Global Law School on 27 March April 2019. Further, His Lordship delivered
2019; (viii) delivered the Nani Palkhivala (i) Speech (as Chief Guest) in the Ninth
Birth Centenary Celebrations Lecture on Annual Prakash Mehrotra Memorial
‘A Borrowed Constitution : fact or myth?’ Lecture on the subject “Empowering the
20. Hon’ble Mr. Justice K. M. Joseph visited (i) Visits of foreign delegations to
Ernakulam (Kerala) to deliver 4th Krishna Supreme Court
Iyer Memorial Lecture at Kerala High 1. Meeting of Hon’ble Shri Dipak Misra,
Court Auditorium on 9 November 2018; Chief Justice of India with Hon’ble Mr.
and (ii) Jodhpur to attend the “Twelfth Justice Anthony Gates, Chief Justice,
Convocation” at National Law University Supreme Court of Fiji on 11 July 2018 at
from 19 – 20 January, 2019. the Residential office of Hon’ble CJI.
144
Mr. Takashi Yamashita, Minister of Justice, Japan during his visit to the Supreme Court of India
The closest rule framed by the Bar Council live-streamed in a manner that is easily
of India is Rule 49 which, however, has accessible for public viewing. It was
no application to the elected people’s held that “the cause brought before this
representatives as they do not fall in the Court by the protagonists in larger public
category of full-time salaried employee interest, deserves acceptance so as to
of any person, firm, government, uphold the constitutional rights of public
corporation or concern. As there is no and the litigants, in particular.”
express provision to prohibit or restrict the
The Supreme Court held that “until a full-
legislators from practising as advocates
fledged module and mechanism for live
during the relevant period, the question of
streaming of the court proceedings of
granting relief, as prayed, to debar them
the Supreme Court over the “internet” is
from practising as advocates cannot be
evolved, it would be open to explore the
countenanced. Even the alternative relief
possibility of implementation of Phase-I of
to declare Rule 49 as unconstitutional,
live streaming in designated areas within
does not commend to us. As of now, the
the confines of this Court via “intranet”
Bar Council of India has made its stand
by use of allocated passwords, as a pilot
explicitly clear that no such prohibition
project.”
can be placed on the legislators.”
6. On 26 September 2018, in the case of
4. On 25 September 2018, in the case of
Justice K.S. Puttaswamy (Retd.) and
Public Interest Foundation & Ors. v. Union
Another v. Union of India and Others
of India & Anr. [Writ Petition (Civil) No.536 of
[Writ Petition (Civil) No.494 of 2012], the
2011], the Supreme Court recommended
146 Supreme Court held that the architecture
“to the Parliament to bring out a strong law
of Aadhaar as well as the provisions of the
whereby it is mandatory for the political
Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial
parties to revoke membership of persons
and Other Subsidies, Benefits and
against whom charges are framed in
Services) Act, 2016 did not tend to create
heinous and grievous offences and not to
a surveillance State. Amongst others, it
set up such persons in elections, both for
was held that authentication records
the Parliament and the State Assemblies.”
150
I. Supreme Court Reports vacancy position in the Courts at all levels, each
issue of the newsletter also contains the gist of
The enactments of Parliament or the State
important decisions delivered by the Supreme
Legislatures are published by gazette
Court during the relevant quarter for current
notifications under the sovereign function of the
awareness purpose. Information relating to
State. Similarly, decisions of the Hon’ble Supreme
appointments and transfers in superior judiciary,
Court of India are published in the Supreme
and important activities of National Judicial
Court Reports (SCR). SCR is the official journal
Academy (NJA) and National Legal Services
of reportable Supreme Court decisions, which
Authority (NALSA)are also incorporated in the
Awasthi
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Pradeep Hon’ble Mr. Justice Rajul Bhargava Hon’ble Mr. Justice Neeraj Tiwari
Kumar Singh Baghel
Hon’ble Mr. Justice B. Amit Hon’ble Mr. Justice Siddhartha Hon’ble Mr. Justice Prakash Padia
Sthalekar Varma
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Pankaj Naqvi Hon’ble Ms. Justice Sangeeta Hon’ble Mr. Justice Alok Mathur
Chandra
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Manoj Misra Hon’ble Mr. Justice Virendra Hon’ble Mr. Justice Pankaj Bhatia
Kumar-II
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Ramesh Sinha Hon’ble Ms. Justice Rekha Dikshit Hon’ble Mr. Justice Saurabh
Lavania
Hon’ble Ms. Justice Sunita Agarwal Hon’ble Mr. Justice Ashok Kumar Hon’ble Mr. Justice Vivek Varma
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Devendra Hon’ble Mr. Justice Vivek Hon’ble Mr. Justice Sanjay Kumar
Kumar Upadhyaya Chaudhary Singh
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Bachchoo Lal Hon’ble Mr. Justice Saumitra Dayal Hon’ble Mr. Justice Piyush Agrawal
Singh
158
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Rakesh Hon’ble Mr. Justice Aniruddha Hon’ble Mr. Justice Saurabh
Srivastava Singh Shyam Shamshery
Hon’ble Mr. Justice S. P. Kesarwani Hon’ble Mr. Justice Dinesh Kumar Hon’ble Mr. Justice Jaspreet Singh
Singh-I
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Vipin Sinha Hon’ble Mr. Justice Rajiv Joshi Hon’ble Mr. Justice Rajeev Singh
Hon’ble Mr. Justice K. N. Bajpayee Hon’ble Mr. Justice Rahul Hon’ble Ms. Justice Manju Rani
Chaturvedi Chauhan
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Manoj Kumar Hon’ble Mr. Justice Salil Kumar Rai Hon’ble Mr. Justice Karunesh Singh
Gupta Pawar
*As on 1 November 2019
Brief Introduction
The Indian High Courts Act 1861, which had established High Courts of Calcutta, Madras and
Bombay, had also vested power in the Queen of England to issue Letters Patent to establish
other High Courts with similar powers. In exercise of this power, a High Court of Judicature
for the North Western Provinces at Agra was established on 17 March 1866 which was later
shifted to Allahabad in 1869, and by a supplementary Letters Patent dated 11 March 1919,
it’s nomenclature was changed to “the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad”. The United
Provinces High Court (Amalgamation) Order, 1948, issued under Section 229 of the Government
of India Act, 1935, amalgamated the Chief Court for Oudh with ‘the High Court of Judicature
at Allahabad’.
The foundation stone of the present building of the High Court was laid in 1911. The construction
of the building started in the year 1914 and was completed in 1916. Presently, the building has
91 court rooms and 96 Chambers besides the Court and the Chamber of the Chief Justice. A
The High Court has a permanent bench at Lucknow. A new High Court building has been
constructed at Gomti Nagar, Lucknow on 40 acres land, in which there are 57 court rooms.
“Justice Clock” has been installed at the High 164 District and Outlying court complexes have
Court and is functional. In-house software has been connected through VPNoBB. All the District
been developed and successfully deployed Courts of Uttar Pradesh have DRUPAL based
for Digital Display of Court wise case running websites. All the 512 Establishments which cover
information. Analog Based Case Display System all the 74 District Courts, 78 Outlying Courts
Plan -- -- --
Lowest 82
Highest 110
CIVIL
Writ Petition (Articles 226 & 227) 3,36,944 1,09,881 1,07,424 3,39,401
CRIMINAL
Writ Petition (Articles 226 & 227) 16532 50724 47290 19,966
Note: Opening balance modified due to physical verification and creation of new courts.
2,50,041
7,12,981
9,63,022
Brief Introduction
As per the Government of India Order dated 26 December 2018, the Common High Court
of Judicature at Hyderabad for the State of Telangana and the State of Andhra Pradesh has
been bifurcated and a new High Court for the State of Andhra Pradesh has been established.
It has started functioning from 1 January 2019. The High Court of Andhra Pradesh is located at
Nelapadu in Amaravati, Guntur District.
Part 2 High Courts Andhra Pradesh
167
2018-2019 2019-2020
Part 2 High Courts Andhra Pradesh
Lowest 11
Highest 14
CIVIL
Writ Petition (Articles 226 & 227) 84,329 8,309 3,226 89,412
Company Matters 29 0 0 29
Review (Civil) 0 0 0 0
Arbitration Matters 69 6 13 62
CRIMINAL
Contempt (Criminal) 0 0 0 0
678
3,955
4,633
170
Analysis of more than 10 year old Cases as on 30.06.2019
597 537 60
Hon’ble Mr. Justice S.C. Hon’ble Mr. Justice K.R. Shriram Hon’ble Mr. Justice Nutan D.
Dharmadhikari Sardessai
Hon’ble Mr. Justice A.A. Kureshi Hon’ble Mr. Justice Gautam Shirish Hon’ble Mr. Justice Sandeep K.
Patel Shinde
Hon’ble Mr. Justice B.P. Hon’ble Mr. Justice A.S. Hon’ble Mr. Justice Rohit Baban
Dharmadhikari Chandurkar Deo
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Ranjit Hon’ble Ms. Justice R.P. Mohite- Hon’ble Ms. Justice Bharati H.
Vasantrao More Dere Dangre
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Amjad Hon’ble Mr. Justice M.S. Sonak Hon’ble Mr. Justice Sarang V.
Ahtesham Sayed Kotwal
Hon’ble Mr. Justice S.S. Shinde Hon’ble Mr. Justice R.V. Ghuge Hon’ble Mr. Justice Riyaz I. Chagla
Hon’ble Mr. Justice K.K. Tated Hon’ble Mr. Justice D.S. Naidu Hon’ble Mr. Justice Manish Pitale
Hon’ble Mr. Justice P.B. Varale Hon’ble Mr. Justice V.L. Achliya Hon’ble Mr. Justice Mangesh S.
Patil
Hon’ble Mr. Justice S.J. Kathawalla Hon’ble Mr. Justice Vinay Manohar Hon’ble Mr. Justice P.K. Chavan
Deshpande
Hon’ble Mr. Justice R.K. Hon’ble Mr. Justice Ajey Shrikant Hon’ble Mr. Justice M.G. Giratkar
Deshpande Gadkari
Hon’ble Mr. Justice S.V. Hon’ble Mr. Justice Nitin Wasudeo Hon’ble Ms. Justice V.V.
Gangapurwala Sambre Kankanwadi
Hon’ble Mr. Justice T.V. Nalawade Hon’ble Mr. Justice Girish Hon’ble Mr. Justice S.M. Gavhane
Sharadchandra Kulkarni
Part 2 High Courts Bombay
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Ujjal Bhuyan Hon’ble Mr. Justice Burgess Pesi Hon’ble Mr. Justice S.M. Modak
Colabawalla
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Manoj Shivlal Hon’ble Mr. Justice Anil K. Menon Hon’ble Mr. Justice Jamadar N.
Sanklecha Jahiroddin
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Ramesh Hon’ble Mr. Justice C.V. Bhadang Hon’ble Mr. Justice Vinay G. Joshi
Deokinandan Dhanuka
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Sunil Hon’ble Mr. Justice V.K. Jadhav Hon’ble Mr. Justice Avachat R.
Prabhakarrao Deshmukh Govind
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Nitin Madhukar Hon’ble Mr. Justice A.M. Badar Hon’ble Ms. Justice P.V.
Jamdar Ganediwala
Hon’ble Ms. Justice Sadhana Hon’ble Ms. Justice Anuja Hon’ble Mr. Justice Avinash
Sanjay Jadhav Prabhudessai Gunwant Gharote
172 Hon’ble Mr. Justice P.N. Deshmukh Hon’ble Mr. Justice Prakash Deu Hon’ble Mr. Justice Nitin
Naik Bhagawantrao Suryawanshi
Hon’ble Mr. Justice S.B. Shukre Hon’ble Mr. Justice Makarand Hon’ble Mr. Justice Anil Satyavijay
Subhash Karnik Kilor
Hon’ble Mr. JusticeS.C. Gupte Hon’ble Mr. Justice S.S. Joshi Hon’ble Mr. Justice Milind
Narendra Jadhav
The High Court has Civil Original, Civil and Criminal Appellate Jurisdiction over States of
Maharashtra and Goa and Union Territories of Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli. It has
Benches at Nagpur, Aurangabad, and Panaji (Goa) besides its Principal Seat at Bombay.
The present building of Bombay High Court was designed by a British Engineer Lieutenant-Colonel
John Augustus Fuller of the Royal Engineers. The structure is a crucial ensemble of a Gothic
revival architecture dating back to the early English style. Along the west of the central tower,
there are two octagonal towers and statues of ‘Justice’ and ‘Mercy’ on the top of this building
which serve as a source of inspiration to law abiding citizens. The Bombay High Court building is
protected and is listed as a Grade II-A heritage building under the Heritage Regulations enacted
by the Government of Maharashtra in 1995.
173
as per the Legal Services Authorities Act. The the Advocates and litigants on their registered
income limit for providing services of Advocate mobile and e-mail IDs. SMS is sent both in English
to general public, has been recently enhanced and Marathi.
from Rs. 50,000/- per annum to Rs. 2,00,000/- per
174
Digital Signatures have been provided to the and Training Institute, Thane organized 55
Judicial Officers, Senior Private Secretaries, Training programmes with 2950 Participants. They
Private Secretaries, and Personal Assistants to include newly recruited and existing Judicial
the Hon’ble Judges. The High Court of Bombay Officers, Marriage Counsellors, Law Students,
has supplied latest technology hardware such Public Prosecutors, Advocates, Central and
as Information Kiosks, Display Board Units, State Government Probationary Officers. The
Video Conferencing Units to the District and Academy also arranged Conferences, Refresher
Subordinate Courts in the State of Maharashtra, Course, Workshops, Orientation Programmes
Goa, and Union Territory of Diu, Daman at the Academy for Ex-cadre Judicial Officers,
Plan 0 0 0
Lowest 67
Highest 72
CIVIL
Writ Petition (Articles 226 & 227) 1,02,131 45,765 37,942 1,09,954
Review (Civil) 24 42 42 24
CRIMINAL
Writ Petition (Articles 226 & 227) 16,347 9,398 5,933 19,812
Contempt (Criminal) 63 15 14 64
178
Analysis of more than 10 year old Cases as on 30.06.2019
2368 2301 67
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Dipankar Datta Hon’ble Mr. Justice Debangsu Hon’ble Ms. Justice Amrita Sinha
Basak
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Sanjib Banerjee Hon’ble Mr. Justice Ashis Kumar Hon’ble Mr. Justice Abhijit
Chakraborty Gangopadhyay
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Indra Prasanna Hon’ble Mr. Justice Shivakant Hon’ble Mr. Justice Jay Sengupta
Mukerji Prasad
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Harish Tandon Hon’ble Mr. Justice Rajasekhar Hon’ble Mr. Justice Bibek
Mantha Chaudhuri
Hon’ble Dr. Justice Sambuddha Hon’ble Mr. Justice Protik Prakash Hon’ble Ms. Justice Madhumati
Chakrbarti Banerjee Mitra
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Soumen Sen Hon’ble Mr. Justice Sabyasachi Hon’ble Mr. Justice Subhasis
Bhattacharyya Dasgupta
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Joymalya Hon’ble Ms. Justice Moushumi Hon’ble Ms. Justice Suvra Ghosh
Bagchi Bhattacharya
Hon’ble Ms. Justice Samapti Hon’ble Mr. Justice Shekhar B. Hon’ble Mr. Justice Md.
Chatterjee Saraf Nizamuddin
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Sahidullah Hon’ble Mr. Justice Rajarshi Hon’ble Mr. Justice Tirthankar
Munshi Bharadwaj Ghosh
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Subrata Hon’ble Ms. Justice Shampa Sarkar Hon’ble Mr. Justice Saugata
Talukdar Bhattacharyya
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Tapabrata Hon’ble Mr. Justice Ravi Krishan Hon’ble Mr. Justice Hiranmay
Chakraborty Kapur Bhattacharyya
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Arindam Sinha Hon’ble Mr. Justice Arindam Hon’ble Mr. Justice Manojit
Mukherjee Mandal
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Arijit Banerjee Hon’ble Mr. Justice Biswajit Basu Hon’ble Mr. Justice Kausik Chanda
Part 2 High Courts Calcutta
Brief Introduction
The High Court at Calcutta has the distinction of being the first High Court and one of the three
Chartered High Courts established in India, along with those of Bombay and Madras. During its
inception, the Court exercised its jurisdiction over a vast territory. However, with the establishment
of High Court of Allahabad, High Court of Patna and the Dacca High Court (after the partition of
India), the territorial jurisdiction of the Court shrunk considerably. The territorial jurisdiction of the
High Court shrunk further when the Assam High Court was created. At present, the High Court
180
of Calcutta has jurisdiction over the State of West Bengal and the Union Territory of Andaman &
Nicobar Islands. The Calcutta High Court has a permanent Circuit Bench at Port Blair, Andaman
& Nicobar Islands, and another Circuit Bench at Jalpaiguri. Situated on the eastern bank of the
river Hoogly and designed by Walter B. Granville, the grand sandstone edifice is built in the neo-
Gothic style of architecture, and is said to be a perfect replica of the ‘Stadt Hausd’ or ‘Cloth
Hair’ at Ypress in Belgium.
181
Technological Accomplishments
The High Court in its administrative side has
Part 2 High Courts Calcutta
Plan 23,70,00,000
2,11,83,50,000 1,80,15,46,000
Non-Plan 1,46,65,43,160
Part 2 High Courts Calcutta
Lowest 35
Highest 42
CIVIL
Writ Petition (Articles 226 & 227) 83323 28510 29008 82822
Review (Civil) 00 00 00 00
Matrimonial Matters 25 00 00 25
CRIMINAL
Contempt (Criminal) 89 05 03 91
1,014 938 35
Note: Vacancy is calculated to be the margin between the accommodating strength (actual number of posting) and the
working strength (actual number of officers as on particular date) in the respective cadres of the WBJS.
Brief Introduction
The State of Chhattisgarh came into existence on 1 November 2000 by virtue of Madhya
Pradesh Re-organization Act, 2000 and the High Court of Chhattisgarh was established having
its jurisdiction over the territories of the State of Chhattisgarh with seat at Bilaspur. At present, the
High Court of Chhattisgarh is housed in a new three-storied building comprising of 15 courtrooms
and 300 rooms/chambers. All the courtrooms are installed with CCTV. Equipped with banking,
postal, medical and canteen facilities, the new High Court complex is Asia’s largest High Court in
terms of area. The High Court of Chhattisgarh is India’s first High Court having 500 kw solar power
Part 2 High Courts CHHATTISGARH
plant installed in its premises, generating its own power using clear energy.
188
Plan -- -- --
Part 2 High Courts CHHATTISGARH
Lowest 14
Highest 16
CIVIL
Writ Petition (Articles 226 & 227) 17,945 13,977 13,651 18,271
Company Matters 32 1 11 22
CRIMINAL
Writ Petition (Articles 226 & 227) 938 747 662 1,023
Contempt (Criminal) 8 1 2 7
468 397 71
Hon’ble Ms. Justice Hima Kohli Hon’ble Mr. Justice Vibhu Bakhru Hon’ble Mr. Justice C. Hari Shankar
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Jayant Nath Hon’ble Ms. Justice Rekha Palli Hon’ble Mr. Justice Brijesh Sethi
Brief Introduction
Part 2 High Courts Delhi
The High Court of Delhi was established on 31 October 1966 in terms of section 3(1) of the Delhi
High Court Act 1966 which was enacted by Parliament. It was initially housed in a residential
bungalow, then shifted to ‘Travancore House’, Kasturba Gandhi Marg and thereafter to ‘Patiala
House’ in the vicinity of India Gate. The permanent abode was finally acquired by the High
Court when it moved to its own building at Sher Shah Road, which was inaugurated on 25
September 1976 by the late President Mr. Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed. Originally, the High Court
had three buildings – one main Court building (‘A’ Block) and two adjacent but integrated
administrative blocks. The facade of the main Court building (‘A’ Block) has murals made by
Mr. Satish Gujral, the renowned painter, sculptor and muralist. Subsequently, keeping in view
194 the increased infrastructural requirements, two more buildings have been constructed – an
‘Extension Block’, which became operational in December, 2005; and an ‘Administrative Block’,
which became operational in March 2012. A state-of-the-art four-storey building namely ‘New
Courts Block’ was inaugurated on 25 July 2018.
The High Court has jurisdiction over the National Capital Territory of Delhi. It is one of the only four
High Courts in India with Ordinary Original Civil Jurisdiction. By virtue of the Commercial Courts,
Commercial Division and Commercial Appellate Division of High Courts Act, 2015, Commercial
Divisions have also been established at the High Court of Delhi.
The Delhi Judicial Academy (DJA), Delhi State Court Management Systems Committee
International Arbitration Centre (DIAC), Delhi (SCMSC) issued various directions for “Reduction
High Court Legal Services Committee (DHCLSC), of pendency (Five plus Zero)”, due to which
State Court Management Systems Committee substantial progress has been made in disposal
(SCMSC), and the High Court of Delhi Mediation of five and ten year old cases by the Judicial
and Conciliation Centre (Samadhan) function Officers. As on 30 June 2019, there is a reduction
under the aegis of the High Court of Delhi. of about 53.29% in the targeted 5 year old
cases, while reduction in respect of 10 years
DJA conducted 52 programmes in the judicial
old cases is about 75.39%. The Pilot Project titled
year 2018-19 for the officers of Delhi District
“Zero Pendency Courts” started by SCMSC in
Judiciary, other stakeholders as well as Public
certain Subordinate Courts in Delhi concluded
Prosecutors, Special Magistrates and Court
on 31 December 2018 and the final report i.e.
Staff. Institutional Training and Practical Training
‘Zero Pendency Courts Project’ was published
by way of Court Attachment and Field Training
and uploaded on 2 May 2019, on the official
was organized at DJA for newly recruited
website of the High Court of Delhi. SCMSC has
officers of DJS and DHJS. Further, a three-day
been monitoring the progress/disposal of 50
Intensive Training Programme was conducted
oldest cases (year-wise) of civil and criminal
by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India at DJA
nature pending before the officers of DHJS and
for Judicial Officers and Advocates.
DJS posted in Subordinate Courts, Delhi and
Delhi International Arbitration Centre (DIAC) issued various directions for disposal of these
maintains an extensive panel of 430 Arbitrators. cases. The module for disposal of online traffic
It has the distinction of being the first ever High challans was prepared under the directions of
Court annexed Institutional Arbitration Centre. It SCMSC with the help of other expert agencies
196
197
Plan -- -- --
Lowest 33
Highest 41
CIVIL
Writ Petition (Articles 226 & 227) 20,962 14,585 11,275 24,272
Review (Civil) -- -- -- --
CRIMINAL
Writ Petition (Articles 226 & 227) 1,607 3,858 3,862 1,603
Contempt (Criminal) 25 14 14 25
Brief Introduction
The High Court of Assam was established on 5 April 1948 with R.F. Lodge as the first Chief Justice
of the then Assam High Court. With the constitution of the State of Nagaland as on 1 December
1963, the Assam High Court came to be known as the High Court of Assam and Nagaland.
Further, by virtue of North Eastern Area (Re-organization) Act, 1971, the jurisdiction of the High
Court of Assam and Nagaland was increased to five North-Eastern States of Assam, Nagaland,
Meghalaya, Manipur, and Tripura as well as to the then two Union Territories of Arunachal
Pradesh and Mizoram and was named as the Gauhati High Court.
On 20 February 1987, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram attained Statehood. Thereafter, Gauhati
High Court got jurisdiction over the seven North Eastern States popularly known as seven sisters.
Part 2 High Courts Gauhati
On 23 March 2013, the jurisdiction of the Gauhati High Court got curtailed, as new High Courts
were established in Meghalaya, Manipur, and Tripura. Therefore, the ambit of the jurisdiction
of the present Gauhati High Court lies with a Permanent Bench in Gauhati and three outlying
Benches in Kohima, Aizawl, and Itanagar respectively.
204
205
206
Plan 0 0 0
Plan 0 0 0
** Revised figures.
Plan 0 0 0
Plan 0 0 0
CIVIL
Writ Petition (Articles 226 & 227) 15,737 9,214 8,079 16,872
Company Matters 28 -- 07 21
Arbitration Matters 25 59 68 16
CRIMINAL
Contempt (Criminal) -- 3 1 2
CIVIL
Writ Petition (Articles 226 & 227) 254 234 255 233
Company Matters -- -- -- --
Contempt (Civil) 21 36 23 34
Review (Civil) 15 8 21 2
Matrimonial Matters -- -- -- --
Arbitration Matters -- 1 -- 1
Civil Revisions 3 6 5 4
Civil Appeals 13 8 6 15
CRIMINAL
Criminal Revisions 8 6 9 5
Bail Applications 3 15 17 1
209
Criminal Appeals 6 11 5 12
Contempt (Criminal) 2 2 1 3
CIVIL
Writ Petition (Articles 226 & 227) 149 139 130 158
Company Matters -- -- -- --
Contempt (Civil) 11 29 20 20
Review (Civil) 3 9 7 5
Matrimonial Matters -- -- -- --
Arbitration Matters 1 3 2 2
Civil Revisions 5 8 8 5
Civil Appeals 92 20 37 75
MACT Matters 23 37 29 31
CRIMINAL
Criminal Revisions 4 6 5 5
Bail Applications -- 14 13 1
Contempt (Criminal) -- -- -- --
CIVIL
Writ Petition (Articles 226 & 227) 656 544 500 700
Company Matters -- -- -- --
Contempt (Civil) 72 73 61 84
Review (Civil) 5 15 10 10
Matrimonial Matters -- 01 -- 01
Arbitration Matters 3 -- -- 03
Civil Revisions 75 39 30 84
Civil Appeals 53 20 14 59
CRIMINAL
Criminal Revisions 18 30 19 29
Contempt (Criminal) 01 01 01 01
Hon’ble Ms. Justice Bela M. Trivedi Hon’ble Mr. Justice Vipul Hon’ble Dr. Justice Ashutosh
Manubhai Pancholi P.Thaker
Hon’ble Ms. Justice S.G. Gokani Hon’ble Mr. Justice Ashutosh Hon’ble Mr. Justice V.P. Patel
Jayantilal Shastri
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Ashish J. Desai Hon’ble Mr. Justice Biren Aniruddh Hon’ble Mr. Justice Bhargav
Vaishnav Dhirenbhai Karia
Hon’ble Mr. Justice N.V. Anjaria Hon’ble Mr. Justice Alpesh Hon’ble Ms. Justice Sangeeta
Yeshvant Kogje Kamalsingh Vishen
*As on 1 November 2019
Brief Introduction
The High Court of Gujarat was established on 1 May 1960 under the Bombay Re-organisation Act,
1960 after the bifurcation of the former erstwhile State of Bombay into two States, Maharashtra
and Gujarat. The new Court building became accessible for judicial proceedings on 16 January
1999 at Sola, Ahmedabad. It comprises of Main Court building and Judges Facility building.
An additional building was constructed in the complex in 2015. The complex now consists of
Part 2 High Courts Gujarat
41 court rooms and centrally air-conditioned Administrative building, Record Room building,
Judges Library, Chief Justice Lounge, three common rooms, and Government Pleader’s Office.
The court complex also accommodates Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Centre, facilities
for Permanent Lok Adalat and Free Legal Aid.
Plan
1,76,04,60,000 2,60,40,21,000 1,94,48,46,000
Non-Plan
Part 2 High Courts Gujarat
Lowest 27
Highest 31
CIVIL
Writ Petition (Articles 226 & 227) 38,373 20,919 16,631 42,661
Review (Civil) 6 1 4 3
CRIMINAL
Writ Petition (Articles 226 & 227) 5,427 13,244 11,661 7,010
Contempt (Criminal) 46 14 26 34
218
Brief Introduction
Himachal Pradesh came to be formed as a result of integration of 26 Shimla and 4 Punjab hill
States into a Centrally Administered Area on 15 April 1948. A Court of Judicial Commissioner
was established in Himachal Pradesh on 15 August 1948 by the Himachal Pradesh (Courts)
Order, 1948. Subsequently, the Court of Judicial Commissioner was vested with the powers of a
High Court under the Judicial Commissioner’s Court Act, 1950. However, in 1966, the Delhi High
Court Act was enacted and w.e.f. 01 May 1967, the operation of the said Act was extended
to the Union Territory of Himachal Pradesh, replacing the Court of Judicial Commissioner by the
Himachal Bench of Delhi High Court, at Shimla. After attaining Statehood in 1971, the State of
Himachal Pradesh got its own High Court with Headquarters at Shimla.
Part 2 High Courts Himachal Pradesh
222
A frontal view of the High Court of Himachal Pradesh
223
Lowest 8
Highest 10
CIVIL
Writ Petition (Articles 226 & 227) 5625 3022 2522 6125
Company Matters 39 0 12 27
CRIMINAL
Contempt (Criminal) 8 1 6 3
172 154 18
Brief Introduction
In 1928, a full fledged High Court of Jammu and Kashmir was established. The accession of
Jammu and Kashmir to India in October, 1947 was followed by promulgation of the Constitution
(Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Order, 1950. In 1957, the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir
came into force but a provision was made so that the High Court established in 1928 could
continue to exercise jurisdiction in relation to the State. Vide the Constitution (Application to
J&K) Order 2019, C.O 271 notified vide Notification dated 05 August 2019 read with Declaration
under Article 370(3) of the Constitution, C.O 273 notified vide Notification dated 06 August 2019,
provisions of Constitution of India as amended from time to time, without any modifications or
exceptions, have been made applicable to the State of J&K. On 31 October 2019, the Jammu
and Kashmir Reorganization Act, 2019 came into force whereby the existing State of Jammu
and Kashmir has been bifurcated into two Union Territories, namely, Union Territory of Jammu
and Kashmir and Union Territory of Ladakh. However, as per Section 75 of the 2019 Act, the
Part 2 High Courts Jammu & Kashmir
existing High Court of Jammu and Kashmir shall be the common High Court for the Union Territory
of Jammu and Kashmir and Union Territory of Ladakh. The High Court has two buildings, one at
each wing of the High Court at Srinagar and Jammu. The headquarter of Hon’ble the Chief
Justice remains at Srinagar from May to October and shifts to Jammu from November to April
every year. The Judicial branches of the High Court remain functional in each wing of the High
Court throughout the year.
Lowest 9
Highest 11
CIVIL
Writ Petition (Articles 226 & 227) 40,458 13,322 7,252 46,528
Company Matters 13 2 2 13
CRIMINAL
Contempt (Criminal) 15 9 8 16
290* 233 79
* 22 Dehi Adalat not yet established are not included in above sanctioned strength.
Brief Introduction
The history of the High Court of Jharkhand spreads across two phases. The first phase covers its
history as part of the unified State of Bihar and the second phase gives its historic account after
a separate State of Jharkhand was formed. A circuit bench of Patna High Court was established
at Ranchi on 6 March 1972. Thereafter, a permanent Bench of the Patna High Court at Ranchi
was established by virtue of the High Court at Patna (Establishment of Permanent Bench at
Ranchi) Act 1976. By promulgation of the Bihar Re-organisation Act, 2000, the State of Jharkhand
was created from the State of Bihar, and from the appointed day of 15 November 2000, the
Ranchi Bench of the Patna High Court was made functional as the High Court of Jharkhand.
Part 2 High Courts JHARKHAND
Ever since the inception of the High Court of Jharkhand, all its official activities have continued
in the building formerly designated as the Circuit Bench for Patna High Court, in which the Circuit
Court and subsequently the Permanent Bench of the Patna High Court were operating.
panel of 10 promising junior lawyers from Bar In the field of Solar Energy, JREDA (Jharkhand
to provide services to the dedicated Cell. The Renewable Energy Development Agency) has
dedicated Cell also identifies cases which arise completed the Installation and Commissioning
out of single issue /order but pending before of Grid connected Rooftop SPV Power Plants
different Benches. These cases are also ordered of total 1780 Kwp in 16 different District and
to be listed before the Bench for disposal at an Subordinate Courts of the State of Jharkhand.
early date. In respect of Display Monitors, High Court has
Plan 0 0 0
Highest 19
CIVIL
Writ Petition (Articles 226 & 227) 30,750 6,436 11,217 25,969
Company Matters 4 0 0 4
Matrimonial Matters 0 0 0 0
CRIMINAL
Writ Petition (Articles 226 & 227) 1,106 372 419 1,059
Contempt (Criminal) 25 0 10 15
238
Details of Judicial Officers in Subordinate Courts as on 30.06.2019
Brief Introduction
Part 2 High Courts Karnataka
On the green, sprawling lawns of Cubbon Park, is the Attara Kacheri which is the home of the High
Court of Karnataka. It is a two-storeyed building of stone and brick in earthy red hue in Graeco-
Roman architectural style. In the erstwhile princely State of Mysore, initially, administration of
justice graduated from the locally confined Sadar Munsiff to the judges of the Huzur Adalath
and to the Judicial Commissioner of Mysore in 1856. The post was re-designated in the year 1881
as the Chief Judge, while the Court was renamed as the Chief Court of Mysore. In 1929, the
Chief Court was designated as “The High Court of Judicature of Mysore”. Since then, High Court
of Mysore exercised its jurisdiction over the former princely State of Mysore, and continued as
High Court of Mysore till 26 January 1950, on which date, the Constitution of India was enforced.
Thereafter, on the re-organization of States, in the year 1956, High Court of Mysore extended its
jurisdiction to the entire State of Mysore which was re-named as State of Karnataka, with effect
from 1 November 1973.
240
Initiatives for the Judicial Year 2018-19
Administrative Achievements 4689 cases were settled by BMC. BMC also
organized important programmes such as
Under the aegis of the High Court of Karnataka,
Referral Judges Training Programmes, Workshop
Bangalore Mediation Centre (BMC) was
for mediators on “Drafting Agreement”, and
established in the year 2007. During this
Coloquium Programme in co-ordination with
judicial year, 7540 cases were mediated and
Karnataka State Legal Services Authority and
242
243
Plan -- -- --
Lowest 28
Highest 33
CIVIL
Writ Petition (Articles 226 & 227) 1,65,559 82,459 79,789 1,68,229
Arbitration Matters -- 2 1 1
CRIMINAL
Contempt (Criminal) 14 11 4 21
17,750
11,091
28,841
246
Brief Introduction
On 1 November 1956, the High Court of Kerala came into existence, with its seat at Ernakulam.
The High Court of Kerala exercises territorial jurisdiction over the entire State of Kerala and the
Union Territory of Lakshadweep. The High Court has many unprecedented features to its credit.
Part 2 High Courts KERALA
Hon’ble Ms. Justice Anna Chandy was the first woman in the history of the country to adorn the
office of a High Court Judge when she was appointed to the Kerala High Court. Hon’ble Ms.
Justice M. Fathima Beevi is the first woman High Court Judge to be elevated to the Supreme
Court of India.
Highest 38
CIVIL
Writ Petition (Articles 226 & 227) 76,048 44,335 45,219 75,164
CRIMINAL
Writ Petition (Articles 226 & 227) 710 1163 1193 680
Contempt (Criminal) 9 1 4 6
2,056
4,450
6,506
252
539 459 80
Brief Introduction
Part 2 High Courts Madhya Pradesh
The State of Madhya Pradesh came into existence on 1 November 1956 under the State
Reorganization Act, 1956. It earlier formed part of “Central Province and Berar” and was within
the jurisdiction of Nagpur. The Nagpur High Court was established for Central Province and Berar
by virtue of the Letters Patent dated 2 January 1936, issued under Section 108 of the Government
of India Act, 1915, by King Emperor, George the Fifth. The said Letters Patent continued in force
even after adoption of the Constitution of India on 26 January 1950 by virtue of Articles 225 and
372 thereof. After creation of the State of Madhya Pradesh, the Nagpur High Court was shifted to
Jabalpur and renamed as High Court of Madhya Pradesh with its Principal Seat at Jabalpur. The
building of High Court was designed by Henry Irwin, CIE, PWD, in 1886 and completed in 1889.
The building is constructed in brick-lime with ornamental towers and cornices. The architecture
of the building is mixed baroque and oriental.
Court Fees and other related fees. Near about data/e-paper-book to the office of Advocate
300 Point of Sale (POS) Machines have been General and all Government Department. As
installed at the High Court, District Courts and soon as certified copy is ready, SMS is sent to
Tehsil Courts for making online payment of court the applicant. Similar SMS facility is provided
fees in the State of Madhya Pradesh. regarding cost estimates on preparation of
Paper Book. Litigants and Advocates can
SMS services regarding registration of cases,
access case status including Judgments/ Order
case status, registration of copying and its
case wise on their mobile sets. An Android
status are available for litigants and Advocates.
application is provided on the official website,
256 e-Cause lists are sent to the registered e-mail
which can be downloaded and used for viewing
address of the Advocates/Litigants. Advocates
of case status. Similar facility has been provided
are allowed to create a login ID and password
on digital Display Boards and Kiosks installed
on the official website of the High Court for their
in the Court premises. There is integration of
cases registered in the High Court. As a result,
Investigating officer’s database maintained in
the current status of their cases is accessible to
Crime and Criminal Tracking Networks System of
them. Also, the facility to download the scanned
Police Department (CCTNS) within the database
paper book is provided to the Advocates.
of the District and Tehsil Courts. Digitally signed
There is real time transmission of scanned
interim orders, final orders and judgment are Judgments/Orders. The installation of 153
made available on the intranet and the website electronic franking machines for the Tehsil Courts
of the High Court. From 1 January 2019 to 31 and “AADHAR based Biometrics Attendance
August 2019 total 4,21,642 numbers of digitally Monitoring and Management System” at all the
signed Judgments/Orders were uploaded in the District and Tehsil Courts has been completed.
website of the High Court of Madhya Pradesh, Also, high capacity Servers and Storage Devices
Jabalpur. Computer hardware and peripherals (SAN & NAS) have been installed in the Server
have been provided to the Bar Association at Room of the High Court. Mirroring of database
Jabalpur for e-awareness. has been done at State Data Centre, Bhopal,
High Court Bench at Indore and Gwalior. 257
Case Information System NC 3.1 Puna Version
Approximately 1300 LAN points have been
(CIS NC 3.1 Pune Version) has been developed
installed from January 2019 to August 2019 at
for Case Management in the subordinate courts.
District Judiciary. 1098 Video Conferencing (VC)
Centralized Filing Counter facilities have been
Systems have been purchased for installation
provided in the subordinate courts. The usages
at District and Tehsil Courts, Jails/Sub-Jails and
of bulk digital signature has been implemented
Hospitals. In the District Courts, the installation
in the High Court of Madhya Pradesh for digital
of CCTV cameras in the pilot phase has been
signing of the files/scanned documents and
completed at District Court of Ujjain and Katni.
Highest 35
CIVIL
Writ Petition (Articles 226 & 227) 85,321 33,276 25,553 93,044
CRIMINAL
Writ Petition (Articles 226 & 227) 1,046 1,312 1,024 1,334
Contempt (Criminal) 28 14 11 31
Hon’ble Ms. Justice Pushpa Hon’ble Mr. Justice P. Velmurugan Hon’ble Mr. Justice M. Nirmal
Sathyanarayana Kumar
Hon’ble Mr. Justice K. Hon’ble Dr. Justice G. Hon’ble Mr. Justice Subramonium
Kalyanasundaram Jayachandran Prasad
Hon’ble Mr. Justice S. Hon’ble Mr. Justice C.V. Hon’ble Mr. Justice N. Anand
Vaidyanathan Karthikeyan Venkatesh
Hon’ble Mr. Justice R. Mahadevan Hon’ble Mr. Justice R.M.T. Teeka Hon’ble Mr. Justice G.K.
Raman Ilanthiraiyan
Part 2 High Courts Madras
Hon’ble Ms. Justice V. M. Velumani Hon’ble Mr. Justice N. Sathish Hon’ble Mr. Justice Krishnan
Kumar Ramasamy
Hon’ble Mr. Justice V. Hon’ble Mr. Justice N. Seshasayee Hon’ble Mr. Justice C. Saravanan
Bharathidasan
Hon’ble Mr. Justice D. Hon’ble Mr. Justice V. Bhavani Hon’ble Mr. Justice B. Pugalendhi
Krishnakumar Subbaroyan
Hon’ble Mr. Justice S.S.Sundar Hon’ble Mr. Justice A.D. Jagadish Hon’ble Mr. Justice Senthilkumar
Chandira Ramamoorthy
Hon’ble Mr. Justice V. Parthiban Hon’ble Mr. Justice G.R.
Swaminathan
*As on 1 November 2019
264
265
Plan -- -- --
Lowest 58
Highest 63
CIVIL
Writ Petition (Articles 226 & 227) 1,37,235 59,213 63,261 1,33,187
Matrimonial Matters 1 0 0 1
CRIMINAL
Writ Petition (Articles 226 & 227) 970 5,778 5,238 1,510
Contempt (Criminal) 0 0 0 0
16,695
19,873
36,568
268
1,200 1,102 98
Brief Introduction
A common High Court called the Gauhati High Court was established on re-organization of the
North-Eastern region by the North Eastern Area (Re-organization) Act, 1971 for the five North-
Eastern States namely, Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, Meghalaya, and Tripura and the then two
Union Territories of Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh. The Imphal Bench of the Gauhati High
Court came into existence on 21 January 1972. Two decades later, the Imphal Bench became
a Permanent Bench of the Gauhati High Court. The High Court of Manipur came into existence
on 23 March 2013 with Principal Seat at Imphal. The High Court building is situated at the base of
the legendary Cheirao Ching hill which has a festive relevance of being climbed by people of
the state to celebrate Cheiraoba - Manipuri New Year.
Divn.)/Judicial Magistrate First Class in far flung Clinics has been initiated in Senapati District as
areas along with creation of posts for Judges, a joint initiative of Department of Justice, Govt.
staff and development of suitable infrastructure. of India and Manipur SLSA under the second
The office of Manipur State Legal Services stage of the A2J (NE&JK) Project.
Authority (MASLSA), earlier operating from High
The PLV/Panel Advocates conducted 10 days
Court complex, has shifted to its full-fledged
Door to Door campaign from 9 November
office- ADR Centre at Lamphelpat, Imphal.
2018 to 18 November 2018. As many as 36,711
18 Legal Services Clinics were opened in persons were informed about the availability
different parts of the State. Legal Literacy Clubs of free legal services and 1231 persons were
were opened at six schools. All together, 485 identified for providing free legal services. Legal
Legal Literacy/Legal Awareness Programmes aid and other assistance by the PLVs through
270 were held at different areas covering all the the Legal Services Clinics has been provided to
districts of the State. Free legal aid was provided 8343 persons.
to 185 persons for filing/defending their cases
For the first time, a “40-hours Mediation Training
before the courts. 1945 cases were settled in
Programme” was held for Advocates from 16
the Lok Adalat with total settled amount of Rs.
October 2018 to 20 October 2018 under the
8,67,32,627. Further, 33 pending court cases were
guidance of MCPC of Hon’ble Supreme Court.
settled through mediation. 23 different Training
Programmes were held for Panel Advocates, As part of “Campaign for legal assistance to
Remand Lawyers Para-Legal Volunteers, Child the family members of prisoners” PLVs/Panel
Plan -- -- --
Lowest 3
Highest 4
CIVIL
Writ Petition (Articles 226 & 227) 2,496 1,179 2,069 1,606
Company Matters 0 0 0 0
Review (Civil) 46 26 41 31
Matrimonial Matters 12 13 8 17
Arbitration Matters 3 1 1 3
Civil Revisions 25 14 19 20
MACT Matters 9 4 10 3
CRIMINAL
Criminal Revisions 36 34 27 43
Bail Applications 7 35 28 14
Contempt (Criminal) 5 2 3 4
274
55 40 15
Brief Introduction
A common High Court was established for the five North-Eastern States of Assam, Nagaland,
Manipur, Meghalaya and Tripura and the then two Union Territories (Mizoram and Arunachal
Pradesh) and came to be called the Gauhati High Court, after re-organisation of the North-
Eastern region by the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act 1971. The Circuit Bench of the
Gauhati High Court was based in Shillong which became Permanent Bench in 1995.
277
Plan -- -- --
Highest 3
CIVIL
Writ Petition (Articles 226 & 227) 515 528 456 587
Company Matters 2 0 0 2
Contempt (Civil) 25 53 62 16
Review (Civil) 5 14 15 4
Matrimonial Matters 1 0 0 1
Arbitration Matters 8 5 10 3
Civil Revisions 12 58 35 35
Civil Appeals 61 46 46 61
CRIMINAL
Criminal Revisions 5 37 25 17
Bail Applications 9 40 46 3
Contempt (Criminal) 1 0 0 1
97 39 58
Hon’ble Ms. Justice Sanju Hon’ble Dr. Justice Bidyut Hon’ble Mr. Justice Pramath
Panda Ranjan Sarangi Patnaik
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Sanjaya Hon’ble Mr. Justice Debabrata Hon’ble Mr. Justice Krushna
Kumar Mishra Dash Ram Mohapatra
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Chitta Hon’ble Mr. Justice Satrughana Hon’ble Dr. Justice Akshaya
Ranjan Dash Pujahari Kumar Mishra
Hon’ble Dr. Justice Akshaya Hon’ble Mr. Justice Biswanath
Kumar Rath Rath
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Biswajit Hon’ble Mr. Justice Sangam
Mohanty Kumar Sahoo
*As on 1 November 2019
Brief Introduction
On 9 February 1916, the King of England issued Letters Patent constituting the High Court of
Patna, and Orissa was placed under its jurisdiction. On 1 April 1936, Orissa was made a separate
province, but separate High Court was not provided for it. On 30 April 1948, the Government of
India issued Orissa High Court Order, 1948 declaring that from 5 July 1948, there shall be a Court
for the Province of Orissa. Subsequently, by Orissa High Court (Amendment) Order 1948, the
date of establishment of the High Court of Orissa was changed from 5 July to 26 July 1948. Thus,
on 26 July 1948, the High Court of Orissa was inaugurated at Cuttack.
The old building of the High Court has got its own architectural design and was constructed in
Part 2 High Courts Orissa
1914. The tower along with Conference Hall in the Central Wing of the building, built in 1967-
68, houses 10 court halls and chambers of the Judges. Subsequently, the need for expansion
of the building led to the construction of first extension building followed by another. A multi
storeyed building was also constructed in 2014 with provision for 25 court halls with chambers of
the Judges, Conference Hall, Judges’ Lounge. Further, a New Block has been completed last
year which accommodates the Administrative Sections, Bank, Dispensary and Post office. The
High Court exercises both Original and Appellate Jurisdiction over the entire territory of the State
of Orissa. The High Court of Orissa has also taken the initiatives to establish an Arbitration Centre
and Mediation Centre in its premises. There are 30 Districts Courts under the jurisdiction of High
Court of Orissa and 30 Mediation Centres, one in each district.
282
Initiatives for the Judicial Year 2018-19
Administrative Achievements and two Gram Nyayalayas were established
and made functional in this judicial year.
Construction of 45 Court Halls and 39 Residential
Quarters for the Subordinate Judiciary was During the judicial year 2018-19, a number
completed during the judicial year. Five Family of Legal Services Activities were carried by
Courts, one Vigilance Court, six ADJ Courts, three Odisha State Legal Services Authority (OSLSA)
Sub-Judge Courts, seven Civil Judge Courts, and its field units. 671 Lok Adalats including
285
Highest 15
CIVIL
Writ Petition (Articles 226 & 227) 78,729 24,757 33,162 71,915
CRIMINAL
Writ Petition (Articles 226 & 227) 3,232 1,616 2,658 2,190
Contempt (Criminal) 38 9 15 32
288
Analysis of more than 10 year old Cases as on 30.06.2019
Brief Introduction
The Patna High Court was established under the Letters Patent issued under the authority of British
Sovereign on 9 February 1916. The High Court had jurisdiction over the provinces of Bihar and
Orissa. The province of Orissa was carved out in 1937 but the High Court continued to exercise
jurisdiction till 26 July 1948 when a separate High Court was constituted for Orissa. The State of
Bihar after independence came to be bifurcated in two provinces of Bihar and Jharkhand in
2000 and the Patna High Court now wields jurisdiction over the State of Bihar. The High Court is
Part 2 High Courts Patna
still housed in the Main Building, which was constructed between 1913 - 1916. The construction
of a new Centenary Building, Court-cum Chamber complex adjacent to the existing building is
almost entering its completion stage.
Other applications/softwares have been Case Indexing and File Movement software,
developed such as e-HR, a comprehensive Writ Disposal Automated System and Online
budget management and information system, Transmission of Daily Progress Report are some
292
293
Plan 0 0 0
Lowest 27
Highest 32
CIVIL
Writ Petition (Articles 226 & 227) 56,113 25,294 23,648 55,331
Company Matters 90 2 3 79
Matrimonial Matters 0 0 0 0
Arbitration Matters 21 10 4 27
MACT Matters 0 0 0 0
CRIMINAL
Writ Petition (Articles 226 & 227) 3,259 2,841 2,145 3,713
Contempt (Criminal) 0 0 0 0
296
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Fateh Deep Hon’ble Mr. Justice Arvind Singh
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Rajeev Sharma
Singh Sangwan
Hon’ble Ms. Justice Daya Hon’ble Mr. Justice Harinder Singh Hon’ble Mr. Justice Avneesh
Chaudhary Sidhu Jhingan
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Ajay Tewari Hon’ble Ms. Justice Lisa Gill Hon’ble Mr. Justice Sudhir Mittal
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Jitendra Kumar Hon’ble Mr. Justice Bawa Singh Hon’ble Ms. Justice Manjari Nehru
Chauhan Walia Kaul
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Raj Mohan Hon’ble Mr. Justice Harsimran Singh
Hon’ble Mr. Justice A.G. Masih
Singh Sethi
Hon’ble Dr. Justice Ravi Ranjan Hon’ble Mr. Justice Amit Rawal Hon’ble Mr. Justice Manoj Bajaj
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Rajiv Narain Hon’ble Mr. Justice Anupinder Hon’ble Mr. Justice Harnaresh
Raina Singh Grewal Singh Gill
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Tejinder Singh Hon’ble Dr. Justice Shekher Kumar
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Suvir Sehgal
Dhindsa Dhawan
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Amol Rattan Hon’ble Mr. Justice Gurvinder Singh
298 Singh Gill
Software is being used in the Library for Compulsory filing of Memo of Parties through
house-keeping operations. Radio Frequency e-Filing was introduced for ensuring auto
Identification (RFID) system is integrated with generation of notices through ISHiCo. A software
KOHA Library Management Software and called e-Prison Module has been developed, as
is being regularly used for issue/return and a result which e-signed custody certificates from
inventory control. KIOSKs and Book Drop Boxes all the prisons are being produced in the Court
have been installed in the Judges’ Library for due to which footfall of about 50-60 police
self issue/return of books. Book Eye 4 (Basic), a officials, who used to visit Court on daily basis
scanner for scanning of Books/Gazettes etc. just to bring custody certificates, has stopped.
has been installed in the Judges’ Library and e-Vetting software has been developed for
is also being used for scanning of old/rare vetting of replies or other pleadings online. As
books. An Android Based Mobile Application, a part of digitization of court records, 19.59
‘PHHC eCourts Services’ has been launched crore pages have been scanned. Through
300 for the High Court. A unique feature of the e-Inspection, inspection of judicial file without
app, ‘My Diary’ acts as a litigant’s private diary actual file movement is being done for litigants
and if any case is stored therein, a notification and Advocates. 73,000 e-Inspections have
goes to the litigant. A dedicated link of Indian been done so far. The case status information
Judiciary has been provided on the website of can be accessed in around 12,000 Common
Consulate General of India, Toronto, Canada Service Centres in the States of Punjab, Haryana
(i.e. www.cgi.toronto.ca). Now, NRIs can obtain and U.T, Chandigarh. Litigants can also apply for
information pertaining to their matters pending certified copy of orders through these Centres.
in Indian Courts.
301
Lowest 47
Highest 55
CIVIL
Writ Petition (Articles 226 & 227) 72,726 33,746 29,740 68,643
CRIMINAL
Writ Petition (Articles 226 & 227) 795 978 1,145 141
Bail Applications* 0 0 0 0
304
Brief Introduction
On integration of princely States into State of Rajasthan, five different High Courts functioning in
Rajasthan - at Jodhpur, Jaipur and Bikaner, High Court of former Rajasthan and Matsya Union
were abolished. A single High Court for the entire State was established at Jaipur which was
inaugurated on 29 August 1949. On complete integration of Rajasthan in 1956, the High Court
was shifted to Jodhpur. On 30 January 1977, a Bench of Rajasthan High Court was established at
Jaipur. The Principal Seat at Jodhpur is presently situated in old heritage building. A magnificent
new Building of the High Court having 22 court rooms is ready for inauguration. The building is
Part 2 High Courts Rajasthan
surrounded by large gardens covering 9.28 acres. The building is Circular in shape having a big
dome. The entire building is made of famous Jodhpur Stone called Chhitar.
During the judicial year 2018-19, there was The Rajasthan State Judicial Academy (RSJA)
a special drive for disposal of more than 10 conducted various Workshops/ Training
years old cases. In just about 3 months, out of Programmes/ Refresher Courses/Conferences
total 80,574 such cases, 16,765 cases have for Judicial Officers in this period. They included
been disposed of. For arrears reduction and wide ranging topics such as Prevention of Human
306 expeditious disposal of old cases in the High Trafficking, Motor Accident Claim Cases, Family
Court and the Subordinate Courts, bi-Monthly Court cases, NDPS Cases, POCSO Act cases,
Meetings of Judicial Officers posted in districts Labour Court Cases and PCPNDT Cases, Cyber
are conducted. A number of new courts and Crimes and Laws, Speedy and Qualitative
posts have been created during the period Disposal of Civil and Criminal Cases. A West Zone
from 1 July 2018 to 8 July 2019. Initiatives have Regional Conference was organized for Judicial
been taken for development of infrastructure. Officers of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra,
315 court buildings and 254 residential Gujarat and Rajasthan. One week International
accommodations for judicial officers are under Level Training Programme was organized for
** Revised figures.
Lowest 23
Highest 33
CIVIL
Writ Petition (Articles 226 & 227) 1,04,542 45,784 27,036 1,23,290
CRIMINAL
Writ Petition (Articles 226 & 227) 1,039 1,855 1,554 1,340
Contempt (Criminal) 21 10 8 23
Brief Introduction
Prior to its merger with the Union of India, in 1975, Sikkim was earlier under a Monarchy. The king
who was popularly known as “the Chogyal” was the fountainhead of justice, whose words was
the law. In 1955, the then King of Sikkim issued the High Court of Judicature (Jurisdiction and
Powers) Proclamation to establish a High Court of Sikkim. Upon merger in 1975, Sikkim became
the 22nd State of India, and the High Court functioning immediately prior to the date of merger
became the High Court for the State of Sikkim under the Constitution like any other High Court
in the Country. In 1978, Sikkim Civil Courts Act was passed with a view to consolidate the laws
relating to constitution of Civil Courts subordinate to the High Court and other related matters.
Plan -- -- --
Highest 3
CIVIL
Company Matters -- -- -- --
Contempt (Civil) 3 2 4 1
Review (Civil) 1 1 2 0
Matrimonial Matters 2 1 1 2
Arbitration Matters 2 3 1 4
Civil Revisions 7 9 13 3
Civil Appeals 29 19 5 43
MACT Matters 14 9 14 9
CRIMINAL
Criminal Revisions 4 2 1 5
Bail Applications 0 1 1 0
Contempt (Criminal) 0 0 0 0
316
25 19 6
Brief Introduction
With the enactment of the Andhra Pradesh Re-organization Act, 2014, the erstwhile State of
Andhra Pradesh was bifurcated into the State of Telangana and the residuary State of Andhra
Pradesh, with effect from 2 June 2014. Consequently, the Andhra Pradesh High Court was
renamed as the High Court of Judicature at Hyderabad for the State of Telangana and the
State of Andhra Pradesh and was common for both the States till 31 December 2018. By virtue of
Presidential Notification dated 26 December 2018 with effect from 1 January 2019, a separate
High Court was established for the State of Andhra Pradesh at Amaravathi and the existing High
Court at Hyderabad was renamed as High Court for the State of Telangana. The High Court
building is situated on the southern bank of the river Musi. Nizam VII, Mir Osman Ali Khan, was the
Architect of the building. It is one of the finest buildings in the city of Hyderabad built by using red
and white stones in saracenic style.
Part 2 High Courts Telangana
Note : Proposal to increase the sanctioned strength has been taken up with State Govt.
2018-2019 2019-2020**
Part 2 High Courts Telangana
Lowest 11
Highest 13
CIVIL
Writ Petition (Articles 226 & 227) 97,042 13,325 8,232 1,02,135
Review (Civil) 0 0 0 0
CRIMINAL
Contempt (Criminal) 0 0 0 0
600000 5,52,023
5,30,380
500000
400000
3,03,212 3,16,953
300000 2,35,070
2,27,168
200000 1,70,092
1,48,449
1,18,496 1,04,755
100000 51,596 43,694
0
Pendency as Institution Disposal Pendency as
on 01.01.2019 (01.01.19 to (01.01.19 to on 30.06.2019
30.06.19) 30.06.19)
2,155
5,324
7,479
413 344 69
Brief Introduction
In the year 1972, after the enactment of the North-Eastern Areas (Re-organisation) Act, 1971,
the State of Tripura came under the jurisdiction of the Gauhati High Court which continued
till 2012. Thereafter, by way of amendment under Section 28A(c) of the North-Eastern Areas
(Re-organisation) Act, 1971, a separate High Court for the State of Tripura was established on
23 March 2013 at Agartala. The High Court of Tripura is functioning from its own spacious and
beautiful three-storied building covering an area of about 10 acres.
325
Lowest 3
Highest 3
CIVIL
Writ Petition (Articles 226 & 227) 1,594 1,398 1,320 1,672
Company Matters 1 0 0 1
Contempt (Civil) 19 65 47 37
Review (Civil) 12 74 77 9
Matrimonial Matters 47 47 27 67
Arbitration Matters 13 32 37 8
CRIMINAL
Contempt (Criminal) 0 0 0 0
328
120 88 32
Brief Introduction
The State of Uttarakhand was carved out from the erstwhile State of Uttar Pradesh on 9 November
2000. On the same date, the High Court of Uttarakhand was also established at Nainital. It is
housed in a magnificent building constructed in the year 1900 A.D., which was known as Old
Secretariat. Hon’ble Mr. Justice Ashok A. Desai was the founder Chief Justice of the High Court
of Uttarkhand. After establishment of the High Court, a Chief Justice Court Block and two more
court buildings were constructed in 2007. Thereafter, Glenthorn building, which earlier belonged
to Forest Department, has also been taken over, in order to meet the increasing demand of
space. A separate ADR complex has also been constructed in the High Court premises, for the
State Legal Services Authority. Initially, the sanctioned strength of High Court was 7, which was
increased to 9 in 2003 and further increased to 11 in 2014. On 30 June 2019, the working strength
of the High Court is 10 including the Chief Justice.
Part – 2 High Courts Uttarakhand
Judicial Institutions: Challenges & Opportunities’ dispensed with and the “Uttarakhand Court
for Hon’ble Judges and Judicial Officers of News” is being uploaded on the website of High
the States of J&K, H.P., Punjab, Haryana, Court www.highcourtofuttarakhand.gov.in.
U.P., Delhi and Uttarakhand. The Academy
Technological Accomplishments
also conducted one day workshop on
Administration of Criminal Justice for about 150 Case Information System (CIS 1.0) has been
Judicial Magistrates, Government Advocates, implemented and running successfully in the
Prosecution Officers, Panel Advocates and High Court of Uttarakhand. Various citizens
Law Students. The Academy also conducted centric services i.e. online case status, cause
22 training programmes and workshops for the list, orders/judgments, information through
serving Judges of State Judicial Service and SMS, NJDG etc. are being provided to all the
HJS cadre and 12 training programmes and stakeholders. Cause list is also being provided to 331
workshops for the Executive Magistrates, Police the Advocates through email. An online Display
Officers and Mediators. Board (Software and Android Application) has
been developed and being used by the lawyers
On 10th anniversary of the High Court, a
and litigants to view live running case sequence
quarterly news letter “Uttarakhand Court
of all the Courts. The project for installation of
News” was launched, which is being published
Physical Display Boards (LFD) is at final stage.
continuously since then. In order to save the
E-Granthalaya and KOHA is being used in the
paper, now hard copy of News Letter has been
High Court’s Library. The entire campus of High
332
333
** Revised figures.
Lowest 6
Highest 10
CIVIL
Writ Petition (Articles 226 & 227) 10,960 8,680 8,427 11,213
Company Matters 17 4 5 16
CRIMINAL
Writ Petition (Articles 226 & 227) 1,378 2,161 1,378 2,161
Contempt (Criminal) 0 4 2 2
1,110
2,964
4,074
293 228 65