Gauhati High Court

The Gauhati High Court was promulgated by governor general of India on 1 March 1948 after the Government of India Act 1935 was passed, establishing the high court with effect from 5 April 1948, for the then-province of Assam. It was originally known as the High Court of Assam and Nagaland, but renamed as Gauhati High Court in 1971 by the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971.

Gauhati High Court
Guwahati High Court Building
26.1913°N 91.7514°E / 26.1913; 91.7514
Established5 April 1948 (1948-04-05)
JurisdictionAssam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, and Mizoram
LocationPrincipal Seat: Guwahati, Assam
Circuit Benches: Kohima, Aizawl & Itanagar
Coordinates26.1913°N 91.7514°E / 26.1913; 91.7514
Composition methodPresidential with confirmation of Chief Justice of India and Governor of respective state.
Authorized byConstitution of India
Appeals toSupreme Court of India
Judge term lengthmandatory retirement by age of 62
Number of positions30 (Permanent 22; Additional 8)
Websitewww.ghconline.gov.in
Chief Justice
CurrentlySandeep Mehta
Since15 February 2023

It has largest jurisdiction in terms of states, with its area covering the states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, and Mizoram.

History

After Indian independence, the Assam Legislative Assembly adopted a resolution on 9 September 1947 that a High Court be established for the Province of Assam. In exercise of power conferred by the Government of India Act 1935, the Governor General of India on 1 March 1948 promulgated the Assam High Court Order, 1948, establishing the High Court of Assam. It was inaugurated on 5 April 1948 by H. J. Kania, the chief justice of India. Sir R.F. Lodge was sworn in as the first Chief Justice of the Assam High Court on the same day. The Assam High Court initially had its sittings at Shillong but shifted to Guwahati on 14 August 1948.

Later, when Nagaland state was created on 1 December 1963, the Assam High Court was renamed as the High Court of Assam and Nagaland.

On re-organization of the northeastern region of India by the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971, the High Court of Assam and Nagaland was abolished with effect from 21 January 1972 by section 28(1)(a) of the Act. The Courts of Judicial Commissioners for Manipur and Tripura, which were functioning as high courts, were also abolished by section 30(1) of the Act. In place of these three entities, a common high court for five states, named Gauhati High Court, was established by section 28(1)(b) of the Act. This High Court was given jurisdiction over the then union territories of Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram by section 32 of the Act.

After Meghalaya, Manipur and Tripura got a high court, the Gauhati High Court ceased its jurisdiction in these three states.

Principal seat and benches

[1] The principal seat of the Gauhati High Court is at Guwahati in Assam. The court has 3 outlying benches. These are:

  1. The Kohima bench for Nagaland state (established on 1 December 1972)
  2. The Aizawl bench for Mizoram state (established on 5 July 1990)
  3. The Itanagar bench for Arunachal Pradesh state (established on 12 August 2000)

Former benches, now full-fledged high courts:

  1. The Imphal bench (established on 21 January 1972) (Converted to a high court in March 2013)
  2. The Agartala bench established on 24 January 1972) (Converted to a high court in March 2013)
  3. The Shillong bench established on 4 September 1974)(Converted to a high court in March 2013)

The Kohima bench for Nagaland state

The Kohima bench is located on the eastern slope of the Ministers' Hill in the capital city of Nagaland, Kohima. The building where the Kohima bench is was earlier a hostel, which was renovated for the Kohima bench. The inauguration of the bench was on 1 December 1972, by the Honorable Mr. Justice M.C. Pathak.

The permanent judge for the state of Nagaland is Lanusungkum Jamir.[2] Elevated as Additional Judge on 22 May 2013.

The Itanagar bench for Arunachal Pradesh state

The permanent bench at Itanagar was inaugurated on 12 August 2000 by A.S. Anand at Naharlagun, which is located about 13 km. from the capital town, Itanagar. The permanent judge is Pranoy Kumar Musahary.

The Aizawl bench for Mizoram state

The Aizawl permanent bench is situated at the capital city of Mizoram, Aizawl. On 5 July 1990, the Aizawl permanent bench of the Gauhati High Court was established and inaugurated by the then-chief justice of India, S.B. Mukherjee. The permanent judge is M. R. Pathak.[3] Elevated as additional judge on 22 May 2013 is Michael Zothankhuma.[3]

Former chief justices
# Chief justice Tenure
Start End
1 Leonard Stone (judge) 1947 1947
2 Ronald Francis Lodge 1947 1948
3 T V Thadani 1948 1949
4 Sarjoo Prasad 1949 1950
5 Chandreswar Prasad Sinha 1950 1952
6 Holiram Deka 1952 1952
7 G. Mehrotra 1952 1953
(6) Holiram Deka 1954 1957
(7) G. Mehrotra 1957 1958
(6) Holiram Deka 1958 1960
(8) G. Mehrotra 1960 1965
9 C. S. Row Nayudu 1965 1970
(7) G. Mehrotra 1970 1973
10 S. K. Dutta 1973 1973
(9) C. S. Row Nayudu 1973 1974
(10) S. K. Dutta 1974 1975
11 M. C. Pathak 1975 1976
12 M. S. Swamy 1976 1977
(11) M. C. Pathak 1977 1978
(12) M. S. Swamy 1978 1978
13 C. M. Lodha 6 July 1978 10 March 1979
14 Debi Singh Tewatia 10 March 1979 30 September 1985
15 P. C. Reddy 30 September 1985 2 November 1986
16 K. M. Lahiri 1986 1986
17 T. S. Misra 1986 1988
18 G. M. Lodha 1 March 1988 15 March 1988
19 A. S. Raghuvir 6 May 1988 21 March 1991
20 R. K. Manisana Singh 27 January 1994 1 February 1994
21 V. K. Khanna 1 February 1994 14 February 1997
22 M. Ramakrishna 18 June 1997 12 February 1999
23 Brijesh Kumar 12 February 1999 19 October 2000
24 N. C. Jain 20 October 2000 5 April 2001
25 R. S. Mongia 5 April 2001 10 June 2002
26 P. P. Naolekar 10 June 2002 27 August 2004
27 Binod Kumar Roy 27 August 2004 5 December 2005
28 B. S. Reddy 5 December 2005 12 January 2007
29 Jasti Chelameswar 12 January 2007 17 March 2010
30 Ramesh Surajmal Garg 17 April 2010 18 June 2010
31 Madan Lokur 18 June 2010 20 December 2011
32 Adarsh Kumar Goel 20 December 2011 11 October 2013
33 Abhay Manohar Sapre 11 October 2013 13 August 2014
34 Ajit Singh 2014 2015
(32) Adarsh Kumar Goel 2015 2015
(34) Ajit Singh 2015 2016
(33) Abhay Manohar Sapre 2016 2016
(34) Ajit Singh 5 March 2016 5 September 2018
(33) Abhay Manohar Sapre 5 September 2018 29 October 2018
35 A. S. Bopanna 29 October 2018 24 May 2019
36 Ajai Lamba 24 May 2019 20 September 2020
37 N. Kotiswar Singh 21 September 2020 9 January 2021
38 Sudhanshu Dhulia 10 January 2021 8 May 2022
(37) N. Kotiswar Singh 9 May 2022 22 June 2022
39 Rashmin Manharbhai Chhaya 23 June 2022 11 January 2023
(37) N. Kotiswar Singh 12 January 2023 14 February 2023
40 Sandeep Mehta 15 February 2023 Incumbent

See also

References
  1. "The Gauhati High Court – High Court of Assam, Nagaland, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh". Ghconline.gov.in. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  2. "Gauhati High Court Kohima Bench". Archived from the original on 28 March 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  3. "Gauhati High Court, Aizawl Bench".
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