. Judiciary of State High Courts The institution of high court originated in India in when the high courts were set up at Calcutta, Bombay and Madras. In the course of time, each province in British India came to have its own high court. After , a high court existing in a province became the high court for the corresponding state.
The High Courts are the highest courts at State level. High Court of Madras The Constitution of India provides for a high court for each state, but the Seventh Amendment Act of authorised the Parliament to establish a common high court for two or more states or for two or more states and a union territory. For example, the States of Punjab and Haryana and the Union Territory of Chandigarh have a common High Court situated at Chandigarh. The High Court of Guwahati is common for four northeastern States of Assam, Nagaland, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh.
The High Court of Guwahati has its benches in Itanagar, Kohima and Aizwal. Delhi, though not a State, has its own separate High Court. Every High Court has a Chief Justice and a number of judges. The number of judges varies from State to State.
The number of judges of each High Court is determined by the President. At present there are High Courts for States and Union Territories. Jurisdiction and Powers of High Court Original Jurisdiction In their judicial capacity, the High Courts of the Presidency towns (Bombay, Calcutta and Madras) have both original and appellate jurisdictions, while other High Courts have mostly appellate jurisdiction. Only in matters of admiralty, probate, matrimonial and contempt of Court, they have original jurisdiction.
The Presidency High Courts have original jurisdiction in which the amount involved is more than Rs. , and in criminal cases which are committed to them by the Presidency Magistrates. Appellate Jurisdiction As Courts of appeal, all High Courts entertain appeals in civil and criminal cases from their subordinate Courts as well as on their own. They have, however, no jurisdiction over tribunals established under the laws