Introduction

• The High Court of Judicature at Madras was established at the presidency town by letters patent granted by Her Majesty Queen Victoria on 26^th June, 1862.
• The sanctioned strength of Madras High Court is 75 judges, of which 56 may be permanently appointed and 19 may be additionally appointed.
• The acting Chief Justice of the High Court of Madras is Justice R. Mahadevan.
• The Registrar general is the Chief Gazetted officer of the Court.

Historical Background

• From 1817 to 1862, the Supreme Court used to function in Madras.
• In 1862, the High Court of Judicature at Madras was established at the presidency town by letters patent granted by Her Majesty Queen Victoria.
• The Madras High Court was formed by merging the Supreme Court of Judicature at Madras and the Sadr Diwani Adalat.
• The first Indian to sit on the High Court of Madras was Sir T. Muthuswamy Iyer.
• The was renamed from Madras to Chennai in 1996 but the Court continued as the Madras High Court.

Establishment and Inauguration of Madras High Court

• Establishment
  • By virtue of Section 51(2) of the State Re-organisation Act, 1961 the government of India issued Madras High Court (Establishment of a permanent bench at Madurai) order, 2004 which led to the establishment of a permanent bench at Madurai.
• Inauguration
  • The Madurai bench of Madras High Court was inaugurated on 24^th July, 2004 by Hon’ble Justice R.C Lahoti.

Seat of the Judiciary

• Principal Seat:
  • The principal seat of Madras High Court is in Chennai.
  • The sanctioned strength of Madras High Court is 75 judges, of which 56 may be permanently appointed and 19 may be additionally appointed.
• Jurisdiction
  • The jurisdiction of High Court of Madras extends to Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
• Additional Bench
  • The additional bench of Madras High Court is in Madurai.
• Jurisdiction of Madurai Bench
  • The Madurai bench have the jurisdiction of districts Kanniyakumari, Theni, Tirunelveli, Tuticorin, Madurai, Dindigul, Ramanathapuram, Virudhunagar, Sivaganga, Pudukkottai, Thanjavur, Tiruchirappalli and Karur.
  • Excepting original Jurisdiction, the Madurai Bench exercises Jurisdiction in all other matters as in the case of the Madras High Court.

Categories of Judicial Officers

• Civil
  • District Judges
  • Senior Civil Judges
  • Civil Judges
• Criminal
  • Sessions Judges
  • Chief Judicial Magistrate
  • Assistant Sessions Judges
  • Judicial Magistrates