Module 4 Notes

Module-4
Unit-3
 The High Court
 Dual Judicature Before 1861
 Introduction
1. Prior to passing of Indian high courts act 1861 existed dual system of courts
2. Crowns court n company’s court
3. Supreme court establish presidency towns courts of british crown
4. Adalat establish mofussil areas courts of eic
5. Different set of organisations jurisdiction n powers confusion n uncertainty
6. Differ:
a) Supreme court professional lawyers barristers 5 years judges; judges company’s Adalat non
professional or legal experience
b) Judges supreme court office crown’s pleasure; judge company’s Adalat office company’s pleasure
c) No hierarchy crown’s court; regular hierarchy (civil n criminal) company judicial arrangements.
Sardar diwani Adalat n sardar nizamat Adalat appellate jurisdiction; supreme court appellate n
original jurisdiction
d) Supreme court English law apply; company’s court native laws inheritance, succession, contracts etc.
charter act of 1833 pass supreme court bound regulations pass governor general in council
e) Supreme court English law of evidence: company’s court follow customary law of evidence derive
hedaya n apply anglo- mohammedan law decide criminal cases. Uncertainty jurisdiction n law
applicable sir Charles e. grey chief justice supreme court at Calcutta imp need fusion of 2 rival courts
 The Process of Unification was However Completed in 3 Distinct
Phases
1. Charter act of 1833 under central legislative council. Council laws n regulations pass binding all courts
crown or company. Result supreme court privileged position. Act of 1833 law commission uniform
system law n police
2. Law commission imp codify procedural law before fusion. Bill fusion intro sir Charles worel 1853.
Codified civil procedure 1859. Ipc 1860
3. Eic dissolve crown’s act of 1858 n responsibilities goi british crown. Indian high courts act british
parliament 1861. Supreme court n sardar adalats court merge high court of judicature at Calcutta,
madras n Bombay.
 Tendency for Amalgamations of the 2 Systems of Courts
1. Merge remedy avoid confusion n conflict difficulties merge disparities law n procedure
2. 1833 all india legislature n laws binding all courts
3. Charter of 1833 all Indian legislature specifically provide act legislature binding 2 courts
4. Law uniformity maintain 2 courts
5. 2nd step uniformity law introduce provisions charter act of 1833 appointment law commission Indian
law codification charter act of 1853 appoint 2 law commission
6. 1858 eic collapse british crown goi distinction 2 courts end. Bg merge supreme n sardar adalat court
prepare but merge 1861 indian high court act pass.
 Indian High Courts Act 1861
 Introduction
1. British parliament introduce Indian High Courts Act 1861
2. Power crown establish high court each presidency
3. Existing supreme court, sardar diwani Adalat n sardar nizamat Adalat abolish
4. Constitution: high court court of record chief justice n not more than 15 puisne judges
a) 1/3 5 puisne judges barristers min 5 saal
b) 5 puisne judges member company’s civil service < 10 saal include min experience 3 saal ZILA judge
c) 10 puisne judges members civil or bar service ie person practice Pleaders sardar Adalat or supreme
court <10 saal or person judicial office judge small cause court < 5 saal
d) Provide judges supreme court n sardar adalt automatically judges newly created high court
e) Chief justice supreme court chief justice high court of Calcutta
f) Judges high court office her majesty’s pleasure
5. High court superintendence every subject appellate jurisdiction n power
a) Call for returns
b) Rules n prescribe forms regulate practice n proceedings of such courts
c) Prescribed forms keeping books, entries n account officers
d) Settle table of fees sheriffs, attorneys, clerks n officers existing law n approval of the governor
e) Crown queen Victoria high court presidency towns letters patent 1862
 Civil Jurisdiction
1. Jurisdiction depend letter patent crown
2. Crown power high court civil criminal testamentary admiralty n matrimonial jurisdiction
3. Crown original n appellate jurisdiction
a) Ordinary original civil jurisdiction
1. Extend presidency towns
2. Power try m determine suits action local limits Calcutta or time commencement of the suit
defendant reside or work or business Calcutta
3. Decide civil suits excepts values >100 trial small cause court
b) Extraordinary civil jurisdiction
1. Expediency or justice or agreement high court transfer suit pending any court itself supervision
c) Appellate civil jurisdiction
1. Authority hear appeals inferior civil courts. Predecessor sardar diwani Adalat
2. High court supreme court power person n estates infants, lunatic n idiots exercise
3. One judge high court function insolvency court insolvent debtors.
 Criminal jurisdiction
a) Ordinary original criminal jurisdiction
1. Limits presidency towns n british n European subjects
b) Extraordinary criminal jurisdiction
1. Try n determine offences commit person place reside jurisdiction any court supervision n control
c) Appellate criminal jurisdiction
1. Court of appeal, revision or reference criminal courts.
2. Hear n determine all reference session judges n revise proceedings lower criminal courts
3. Apply law ipc
 Admiralty n vice admiralty jurisdiction
1. High court powers supreme court abolish court of admiralty (civil, criminal n maritime jurisdiction)
 matrimonial jurisdiction over Christians
1.

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