Bombay High Court
Encyclopedia
Bombay High Court at Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...

, Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...

, is the High Court of India with jurisdiction over the states
States and territories of India
India is a federal union of states comprising twenty-eight states and seven union territories. The states and territories are further subdivided into districts and so on.-List of states and territories:...

 of Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...

 & Goa
Goa
Goa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...

, and, the Union Territories
Union Territory
A Union Territory is a sub-national administrative division of India, in the federal framework of governance. Unlike the states of India, which have their own elected governments, union territories are ruled directly by the federal government; the President of India appoints an Administrator or...

 of Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli. The State High Court has regional benches at Nagpur
Nagpur
Nāgpur is a city and winter capital of the state of Maharashtra, the largest city in central India and third largest city in Maharashtra after Mumbai and Pune...

 and Aurangabad in Maharashtra and Panaji, Goa.

In Mumbai, it has Original Jurisdiction in addition to its Appellates. The Bombay High Court has the sanctioned strength of 75 judges.

History & Premises

The Bombay High Court was inaugurated on 14 August 1862. Although the name of the city was changed from Bombay to Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...

 in 1995, the Court as an institution did not follow suit and remained as the Bombay High Court. The work on the present building of the High Court was commenced in April 1871 and completed in November 1878. It was designed by British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

 engineer Col. J.A. Fuller. The first sitting in this building was on 10 January 1879. Architecture: Gothic revival
Gothic Revival architecture
The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...

 in the Early English style. It is 562 feet (171.3 m) long and 187 feet (57 m) wide. To the west of the central tower are two octagonal towers. The statues of Justice and Mercy are atop this building. The 125th anniversary of the building is slated to be marked by the release of a book, commissioned by the Bar Association, called "The Bombay High Court: The Story of the Building - 1878–2003" by local historians Rahul Mehrotra
Rahul Mehrotra
Rahul Mehrotra is principal of architecture firm Rahul Mehrotra Associates of Mumbai, India and is Professor of Urban Design and Planning and Chair of the Department of Urban Planning and Design at the Harvard Graduate School of Design in Cambridge, Mass., USA...

 and Sharada Dwivedi
Sharada Dwivedi
Sharada Dwivedi is a Mumbai-based historian and researcher. She has authored several books on the history and culture of Mumbai . She is also on the panel on the Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee...

.

The Chief Justice and the Judges

The court has a Sanctioned strength of 75 judges. The court handles 3.4 lakh
Lakh
A lakh is a unit in the Indian numbering system equal to one hundred thousand . It is widely used both in official and other contexts in Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and is often used in Indian English.-Usage:...

 cases, both civil and criminal. 32 sitting judges of the court disposed around 2,000 cases each in 2004. The court has a ratio of 1:1.61 million :: judges to people. Recently, 8 new judges were elevated as High Court Judge. The Current Chief Justice is Hon'ble Mr. Justice Mohit S. Shah. His Lordship is the Former Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court
Calcutta High Court
The Calcutta High Court is the oldest High Court in India. It was established as the High Court of Judicature at Fort William on 1 July 1862 under the High Courts Act, 1861. It has jurisdiction over the state of West Bengal and the Union Territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The High Court...

 and was earlier, the Senior Most Judge at the High Court of Gujarat
Gujarat High Court
The Gujarat High Court is the High Court of the state of Gujarat. It was established on 1 May 1960 under the Bombay Re-organisation Act, 1960 after the state split from Bombay State.The seat of the court is Ahmedabad...

. The former Chief Justice Swatanter Kumar
Swatanter Kumar
Justice Swatanter Kumar, B.A., LL.B. is a judge of the Supreme Court of India.Kumar enrolled as an Advocate with the Delhi Bar Council on 12 July 1971...

 was elevated to the Supreme Court of India
Supreme Court of India
The Supreme Court of India is the highest judicial forum and final court of appeal as established by Part V, Chapter IV of the Constitution of India...

 on 16 December 2009. Hon'ble Justice S.B Bhasme who resigned in the year 1979 to practice in the supreme court had a notable tenure amongst the high courts judges and passed revered judgments affecting matters of public importance. Hon'ble Justice S H Kapadia, Hon'ble Justice Sirpurkar have been elevated to the Supreme Court from Bombay High Court.

Judges elevated to the Supreme Court of India.
Sr. No Name of the Judge S/Shri Justice Date of Appointment Date of Retirement Parent High Court
1 S. H. KAPADIA 2003-12-18 2012-09-29 CJI W.E.F. 2010-5-12 (BOMBAY)
2 V.S.SIRPURKAR 2007-01-12 2011-08-22 BOMBAY
3 HEMANT LAXMAN GOKHALE 2010-04-30 2014-03-10 BOMBAY
4 RANJANA PRAKASH DESAI 1996-04-15 2011-09-13 BOMBAY


Judges transferred from the Bombay High Court.
Sr. No. Name of the Judge S/Shri Justice Recruitment Date of Appointment Date of Retirement Remark
1 JAINARAYAN PATEL SERVICE 1996-03-11 2012-10-05 CJ 2010-06-26 CALCUTTA
2 F.I.REBELLO BAR 1996-04-15 2011-07-31 CJ W.E.F. 2010-06-26 ALLAHABAD


Sitting Judges of the Bombay High Court
Sr. No. Name of the Judge S/Shri Justice Recruitment Date of Appointment Date of Retirement Remark
1 MOHIT SHANTILAL SHAH BAR 1995-09-18 2015-09-09 CJ 2010-06-16 (PHC: GUJARAT)
3 D.K.DESHMUKH BAR 1996-04-15 2012-03-12
4 D.D.SINHA BAR 1996-04-15 2012-12-24
5 B.H.MARLAPALLE BAR 1997-03-10 2011-12-08
6 P.B.MAJMUDAR BAR 1999-09-17 2012-09-09 Joined 25/04/2008 [PHC: Gujarat]
7 SHARAD ARVIND BOBDE BAR 2000-03-29 2018-04-24
8 AJAY M. KHANWILKAR BAR 2000-03-29 2019-07-30
9 DR.D.Y.CHANDRACHUD BAR 2000-03-29 2021-11-11
10 D.B.BHOSALE BAR 2001-01-22 2018-10-24
11 S.J.VAZIFDAR BAR 2001-01-22 2018-05-04
12 SMT. N.N.MHATRE BAR 2001-03-28 2017-09-20
13 P.V.HARDAS BAR 2001-06-26 2015-07-14
14 SMT.V.K.TAHILRAMANI BAR 2001-06-26 2020-10-03
15 D.G.KARNIK BAR 2001-10-12 2012-05-10
16 J.P.DEVADHAR BAR 2001-10-12 2013-04-08
17 V.M. KANADE BAR 2001-10-12 2017-06-22
18 N.H.PATIL BAR 2001-10-12 2019-04-07
19 S. B. DESHMUKH BAR 2003-06-17 2013-06-22
20 ABHAY SHREENIWAS OKA BAR 2003-08-29 2022-05-25
21 ANOOP V.MOHTA BAR 2003-11-14 2017-12-04
22 S.C.DHARMADHIKARI BAR 2003-11-14 2022-01-26
23 B.R.GAVAI BAR 2003-11-14 2022-11-24
24 AVINASH P. LAVANDE BAR 2004-03-15 2013-08-20
25 AMBADAS HARIBHAU JOSHI BAR 2004-03-15 2013-12-16
26 B.P.DHARMADHIKARI BAR 2004-03-15 2020-04-28
27 SMT. VASANTI ANIL NAIK BAR 2005-06-22 2018-05-03
28 J.H.BHATIA SERVICE 2005-06-22 2012-03-07
29 R.C. CHAVAN SERVICE 2005-06-22 2014-04-12
30 SMT. ROSHAN SHAMIM DALVI SERVICE 2005-06-22 2015-11-06
31 ARUN BHAURAO CHAUDHARI BAR 2006-09-08 2019-04-01
32 RAVINDRA MANOHAR BORDE BAR 2006-09-08 2019-08-10
33 RANJIT VASANTRAO MORE BAR 2006-09-08 2021-11-03
34 RAJENDRA MANOHAR SAVANT BAR 2006-09-08 2018-12-06
35 AMJAD AHTESHAM SAYED BAR 2007-04-11 2023-01-21
36 SHINDE SAMBHAJI SHIWAJI BAR 2008-03-11 2022-08-02
37 ASHOK PITAMBER BHANGALE SERVICE 2008-04-16 2015-09-19
38 ANAND VASANT NIRGUDE SERVICE 2008-04-16 2016-09-30
39 RAJIV YADUNATH GANOO SERVICE 2008-04-16 2014-01-05
40 SMT. RAKHA PRAKASH SONDURBALDOTA SERVICE 2008-04-16 2017-03-10
41 KAILASCHAND UTTAMCHAND CHANDIWAL SERVICE 2008-04-16
42 KAMALKISHOR KAPOORCHANDJI TATED BAR 2008-07-18 2021-09-19
43 PRASANNA BHALACHANDRA VARALE BAR 2008-07-18 2024-06-23
44 SHAHRUKH JIMI KATHAWALLA BAR 2008-07-18 2022-03-24
45 PRAMOD DATTARAM KODE SERVICE 2009-02-10
46 UMESH DATTARAYA SALVI SERVICE 2009-02-10 2013-02-26
47 SHRIHARI PURUSHOTTAM DAVARE SERVICE 2009-02-10 2013-04-06
48 ANIL RAMCHANDRA JOSHI SERVICE 2009-02-10 2015-12-20
49 SMT. MRIDULA RAMESH BHATKAR SERVICE 2009-02-10 2019-05-28
50 ANAND VASANTRAO POTDAR SERVICE 2009-02-10 2012-09-02
51 F. M. S. ROSARIO DOS REIS BAR 2009-03-26 2017-08-10
52 RAJESH G. KETKAR BAR 2009-03-26
53 RAVI KRISHNARAO DESHPANDE BAR 2009-03-26 2020-11-06
54 SANJAY VIJAYKUMAR GANGAPURWALA BAR 2010-03-13 2024-05-24
55 T.V. NALAWADE SERVICE 2011-03-17 2021-03-08
56 M. N. GILANI SERVICE 2011-03-17
57 M. T. JOSHI SERVICE 2011-03-17 2016-04-26
58 M. L. TAHALIYANI SERVICE 2011-03-17 2015-12-23
59 A. M. THIPSAY SERVICE 2011-03-17
60 U. V. BAKRE SERVICE 2011-03-17 2015-02-26
61 G. S. GODBOLE BAR 2011-05-04
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
73
74
75

Jurisdiction & Benches

The court has jurisdiction over the states of Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...

, Goa
Goa
Goa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...

 and the Union territories
Union Territory
A Union Territory is a sub-national administrative division of India, in the federal framework of governance. Unlike the states of India, which have their own elected governments, union territories are ruled directly by the federal government; the President of India appoints an Administrator or...

 of Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli. The court has benches in Nagpur
Nagpur
Nāgpur is a city and winter capital of the state of Maharashtra, the largest city in central India and third largest city in Maharashtra after Mumbai and Pune...

, Aurangabad and Panaji. The Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa has enrolled approximately 90,000 Advocates on its Roll till October 2009.

Nagpur Bench

Nagpur
Nagpur
Nāgpur is a city and winter capital of the state of Maharashtra, the largest city in central India and third largest city in Maharashtra after Mumbai and Pune...

 is an industrial and commercial city situated in the centre of India. Formerly, it was the capital of the former State of CP & Berar
Central Provinces and Berar
The Central Provinces and Berar was a province of British India. The province comprised British conquests from the Mughals and Marathas in central India, and covered much of present-day Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra states. Its capital was Nagpur. The Central Provinces was formed in...

, later old Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh , often called the Heart of India, is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal and Indore is the largest city....

 and now it is the sub-capital of the State of Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...

. A full fledged High Court was established at Nagpur on 09-01-1936. Later it was included as a separate bench in the Bombay High Court jurisdiction after the formation of the state of Maharashtra in 1960.

History

Sir Gilbert Stone, a Judge of the Madras High Court was appointed as first Chief Justice. The foundation stone of the new building (present High Court building) was laid by late Sir Hyde Gowan on 9-1-1937. The building was designed by Mr. H.A.N. Medd, Resident Architect. It was constructed at a cost of Rs.7,37,746/-.The building consisted of two stories with a garden courtyard in the centre. The outside dimensions are 400 ft x 230 ft. The original design provided for a main central dome rising 109 feet above ground land, the remainder of thebuilding being approximately 52 feet in height. The building has been constructed with sandstone. The building has Ashlar stone facing and brick hearting. The flooring in the corridors and offices is of Sikosa and Shahabad flag stones. The building is declared open on 6 January 1940. On the opening ceremony the Viceroy of India described this building as a poem in stone. The High Court has a fairly well planned garden on the eastern as well as western sides.

The High Court of Judicature at Nagpur continued to be housed in this building till the reorganisation of States in 1956. With effect from 1-11-1956, eight Marathi speaking districts of Vidarbha formed part of the greater bi-lingual State of Bombay which came into existence. Remaining fourteen Hindi speaking districts of the former State of Madhya Pradesh became part of the newly constituted State of Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh , often called the Heart of India, is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal and Indore is the largest city....

 with the capital at Bhopal. The High Court of Madhya Pradesh was treated as successor of the former High Court at Nagpur.

New Building

A Bench of the High Court at Bombay began to sit in this building at Nagpur with effect from 1-11-1956 and continues to do so even after the formation of the State of Maharashtra on 1-5-1960. During year 1960 the strength of this Bench consisted of four Honourable Judges.

The extension of High Court building consists of two annex buildings on both sides of the existing building viz., North and South Wings. For this Government of Maharashtra has sanctioned Rs.1,29,26,605/- on dated 21 March 1983. 'South Wing' houses various utilities for public, i.e. litigants and the Bar as well as High Court Government Pleader's Establishment including Standing Coursel for Central Government and `A Panel Counsels, and also for the establishment. In the North Wing, it is proposed to accommodate additional Court Halls, Chambers of the Hobble Judges, Judges' Library and the office.

Presently, the strength of this Bench consists of 10 Honourable Judges and total employees are 412.

Aurangabad Bench

The Aurangabad bench was established in 1982. Initially only a few districts of Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...

 were under the Aurangabad bench. Subsequently in 1988, Ahmednagar & others districts were attached to the bench. The bench at Aurangabad has more than 13 judges.
The jurisdiction of the Aurangabad Bench is over Aurangabad, Ahmednagar, Dhule
Dhule
Dhule is a city and a Municipal Corporation in Dhule district in northwestern part of Maharashtra state, India. It is one of the very few well-planned cities of India before Indian Independence.-Geography:Dhule is located at...

, Jalna
Jalna (city)
Jalna is a city and a municipal council in Jalna district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Jalna was formerly a part of Nizam State as a tahsil of Aurangabad district....

, Jalgaon, Beed
Beed
Beed is a town and administrative headquarters of the district of the same name located in central Maharashtra state of India. According to 2001 census, it is the largest urban area in the district with a population of 138,091. Calculated population of 2010 is 161,604. It ranks 295th in population...

, Parbhani
Parbhani
Parbhani is a city in Parbhani district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Parbhani, formerly known as “Prabhavatinagar”, is a city in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra. It is the administrative headquarters of Parbhani District.Parbhani is approximately situated at the centre of Maharashtra...

, Latur
LaTur
La Tur was a Mexican airline that operated from 1988 until 1992 when it was taken over by TAESA.-Company history:Set up in 1988 to help develop the tourist market, La Tur began operations using McDonnell Douglas MD-83 aircraft. One year later, the Airbus A300-600 was introduced for flights to Europe...

 & Osmanabad
Osmanabad
Osmanabad is a city and a municipal council in Osmanabad district in the Indian state of Maharashtra.-Geography:The city of Osmanabad is located at . It has an average elevation of 647 metres ....

.
Recently Hon'ble Justice P.B.Varale, R.M.Borde, S.V.Gangapurwala are elevated as High Court Judges, from the Aurangabad bench. The bench also has a Bar council of Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...

 & Goa
Goa
Goa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...

 office. The present building of bench is situated in a very huge premises. The garden is beautifully maintained. Lush green grass invites the attention of any passerby. The HC bench at Aurangabad is just approximately 4 KM from the Aurangabad Airport
Aurangabad Airport
Aurangabad Airport is a public airport located in Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India.-Project history:...

 and around 6 km from central bus stand. The new building has 13 court halls in all now including two new. All the court halls are on the first floor of the building, while the registry of the Court is on the ground floor. The Aurangabad bench has a strong Bar of more than 1000 advocates. The Aurangabad bench has now 15 judges, With Justice P.V Hardas and Justice N.H Patil being the senior most judges. But Aurangabad bench does not have a jurisdiction for company law matters.
The Aurangabad Bench celebrated its 28th anniversary on the 27th of August 2009.

History

Due to continued demand of the people of Marathwada
Marathwada
The name Marathwada identifies one of the five regions in Maharashtra state of India. The region coincides with the Aurangabad Division.-Historical highlights:...

 region for the establishment of a permanent Bench of the High Court at Aurangabad under sub-section (2) of Sec. 51 of the Act, the State Government first took up the issue with the then Chief Justice (Kantawala, C.J.) In 1977. On 22 March 1978, the State Legislative Assembly passed a unanimous resolution supporting a demand for the establishment of a permanent Bench of the High Court at Aurangabad to the effect :
"With a view to save huge expenses and to reduce the inconvenience of the people of the Marathwada and Pune regions in connection with legal proceedings, this Assembly recommends to the Government to make a request to the President to establish a permanent Bench of the Bombay High Court having jurisdiction in Marathwada and Pune regions, one at Aurangabad and the other at Pune."

The said demand for the constitution of a permanent Bench of the High Court at Aurangabad was supported by the State Bar Council of Maharashtra, Advocates' Association of Western India, several bar associations and people in general. It is necessary here to mention that the resolution as originally moved made a demand for the setting up of a permanent Bench of the High Court of Bombay at Aurangabad for the Marathwada region, and there was, no reference to Pune which was added by way of amendment. Initially, the State Government made a recommendation to the Central Government in 1978 for the establishment of two permanent Benches under sub-sec. (2) of Section 51 of the Act, one at Aurangabad and the other at Pune, but later in 1981 confined its recommendation to Aurangabad alone.

The State Government thereafter took a Cabinet decision in Jan., 1981 to establish a permanent Bench of the High Court at Aurangabad and this was conveyed by the Secretary to the Government of Maharashtra, Law & Judiciary Department, communicated by his letter dated Feb. 3, 1981 to the Registrar and he was requested, with the permission of the Chief Justice, to submit proposals regarding accommodation for the Court and residential bungalows for the Judges, staff, furniture etc. necessary for setting up the Bench. As a result of this communication, the Chief Justice wrote to the Chief Minister on Feb. 26, 1981 signifying his consent to the establishment of a permanent Bench at Aurangabad. After adverting to the fact that his predecessors had opposed such a move and had indicated, amongst other things, that such a step involved, as it does, breaking up of the integrity of the institution and the Bar, which would necessarily impair the quality and quantity of the disposals.

It however became evident by the middle of June, 1981 that the Central Government would take time in reaching a decision on the proposal for the establishment of a permanent Bench under sub-sec. (2) of Section 51 of the Act at Aurangabad as the question involved a much larger issue, viz. the principles to be adopted and the criterion laid down for the establishment of permanent Benches of High Courts generally. This meant that there would be inevitable delay in securing concurrence of the Central Government and the issuance of a Presidential Notification under sub-sec. (2) of S. 51 of the Act. On 19 June 1981, the State Government accordingly took a Cabinet decision that pending the establishment of a permanent Bench under sub-sec. (2) of S. 51 of the Act at Aurangabad for the Marathwada region, resort be had to the provisions of sub-section (3) thereof. On 20 June 1981, Secretary to the Government of Maharashtra, Law & Judiciary Department wrote to the Registrar stating that there was a possibility of the delay in securing concurrence of the Central Government and the issuance of a notification by the President under subsection (2) of S. 51 of the Act for the establishment of a permanent Bench at Aurangabad and in order to tide over the difficulty, the provisions of sub-sec. (3) of Section 51 of the Act may be resorted to and he therefore requested the Chief Justice to favour the Government With his views in the matter at an early date. On 5 July 1981, the Law Secretary waited on the Chief Justice in that connection. On 7 July 1981 the Chief justice wrote a letter to the Chief minister in which he stated that the Law Secretary had conveyed to him the decision of the State Government to have a Circuit Bench at Aurangabad under sub-sec. (3) of Section 51 pending the decision of the Central Government to establish a permanent Bench there under sub-section (2) of S. 51 of the Act. The Chief Justice then added :
"I agree that some such step is necessary in view of the preparations made by the Government at huge costs and the mounting expectations of the people there."

Formation

On 20 July 1981, the Law Secretary addressed a letter to the Registrar requesting him to forward, with the permission of the Chief Justice, proposal as is required under sub-section (3) of S. 51 for the setting up of a Bench at Aurangabad. In reply to the same, the Registrar by his letter dated 24 July 1981 conveyed that the Chief Justice agreed with the suggestion of the State Government that action had to be taken under sub-section (3) of S. 51 of the Act for which the approval of the Governor was necessary and he enclosed a copy of the draft order which the Chief Justice proposed to issue under sub-section (3) of S. 51 of the Act. On Aug. 10, 1981, the Law Secretary conveyed to the Registrar the approval of the Governor. On Aug. 27, 1981, the Chief Justice issued an order under sub-section (3) of S. 51 of the Act to the effect :
"In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (3) of S. 51 of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956 (No. 37 of 1956) and all other powers enabling him in this behalf, the Hon'ble the Chief Justice, with the approval of the Governor of Maharashtra, is pleased to appoint Aurangabad as a place at which the Hon'ble Judges and Division Courts of the High Court of Judicature at Bombay may also sit." This is the history how the Aurangabad Bench of the Bombay High Court was constituted. The Constitution of the Bench by The Hon’ble The Chief Justice V.S.Deshpande then came to be challenged before the Hon’ble Supreme Court. The Petition filed by the State of Maharashtra was allowed and the aspirations of the people from Marathwada were recognised. The Judgment is a reported one (State of Maharashtra v. Narain Shyamrao Puranik) in AIR 1983 Supreme Court 43.

Panaji, Goa Bench

When the High Court of Bombay constituted a bench in Goa, Justice G.F Couto was appointed its first Goan permanent judge. Justice G.D. Kamat was appointed as judge in 1983 and later in 1996 as Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court. Justice E.S da Silva was elevated in 1990 and was a judge of this court till his retirement in 1995. Justice R.K. Batta and Justice R.M.S. Khandeparkar were Judges of the Goa bench for brief period. Presently Justice A.P Lavande is a permanent judge in Goa. Justice F.I Rebello, Justice A.P Lavande and Justice F.M.Reis, all sitting judges of the Bombay High Court, were senior lawyers who practised in the Goa Bench before their elevation.

History

Prior to the Liberation of Goa, Daman & Diu the highest Court for the then Union territory was the "Tribunal de Relacao" functioning at Panaji. This Tribunal de Relacao was abolished when a Court of Judicial Commissioner was established w.e.f. 16 December 1963 under Goa-Daman & Diu (Judicial Commissioner Court) Regulation, 1963. In May, 1964 an Act was passed by the Parliament which conferred upon the Court of Judicial Commissioner, some powers of the High Court for the purposes of the Constitution of India.

Parliament by an Act extended the jurisdiction of High Court at Bombay to the Union territory of Goa Daman & Diu and established a permanent Bench of that High Court at Panaji on 30.10.1982

From its inception, the Hon'ble Shri Justice Dr. G.F.Couto who was at that time acting Judicial Commissioner was elevated to the Bench of High Court of Bombay. The Hon'ble Shri Justice G.D.Kamat was elevated to the Bench on 29.8.1983.

With the passing of Goa, Daman & Re-organization Act, 1987 by the Parliament conferring Statehood to Goa, the High Court of Bombay became the common High Court for the states of Maharashtra and Goa and the Union territories of Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu w.e.f. 30.5.1987.

New Building

This High Court was shifted from the old building of "Tribunal de Relacao" to Lyceum Complex at Altinho, Panaji and started functioning there from 3.11.1997. The main renovated building at the said Complex, constructed in the year 1925 by the Portuguese Government, was inaugurated by the Hon'ble Chief Justice of Bombay High Court Shri M.B.Shah on 2.10.1997. The total amount incurred for renovation of this building alone is Rs.1,72,64,393/-. The Hon'ble the Chief Justice of Bombay High Court, Shri Y.K.Sabharwal, inaugurated the 2nd building on 9.9.1999. Both these buildings now house several departments of the High Court.at

Case Information

bombayhighcourt.nic.in is the official website of the Bombay High Court. The case status and judgments/orders of all cases after 2005 are available on the website. The causelist of Bombay High court can be accessed at

See also

  • Justice Bilal Nazki
  • High Courts of India
    High Courts of India
    India's unitary judicial system is made up of the Supreme Court of India at the national level, for the entire country and the 21 High Courts at the State level. These courts have jurisdiction over a state, a union territory or a group of states and union territories...

  • List of Chief Justices of the Bombay High Court

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
x
OK