Introduction
One of India’s oldest High Courts is the Allahabad High Court, which was founded in 1866. Operating within the jurisdiction of the Indian Constitution, it is the highest court in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Now Allahabad is known as Prayagraj. The Allahabad High Court has a architecturally impressive Indo-European building. It has options for both physical and virtual courts with e-filing and live streaming of cases. Its permanent bench in Lucknow deals with cases pertaining to Uttar Pradesh’s central and eastern districts.
District Courts and Tribunals are among the lower courts under the High Court’s supervision. With 160 judges officially sanctioned, it is one of India’s largest High Courts. In civil, criminal, constitutional, and administrative cases, it is essential to the administration of justice.
The High Court is renowned for rendering important rulings that have shaped Indian governance and law. It is the center of several important rulings and has authority over a number of legal areas. As a result of handling a lot of cases, the Allahabad High Court has a backlog of pending cases, which is a problem that many Indian high courts experience.
Historical Significance of Allahabad High Court
Relevance to History of the Allahabad High Court
An important position in Indian judicial history is occupied by the Allahabad High Court. One of India’s oldest High Courts, it was founded in 1866 and has been instrumental in forming the legal and constitutional landscape of the nation.
1. Creation and Development
at accordance with the Indian High Courts Act of 1861, the High Court of Judicature for the North-Western Provinces was founded at Agra in 1866. After being moved to Allahabad in 1869, it was formally renamed the Allahabad High Court in 1919. Together with the Calcutta, Bombay, and Madras High Courts, which were established to take the place of the Supreme Courts and Sadar Adalats, it was one of the country’s initial High Courts.
- Contribution to the Freedom Movement in India
Numerous historic cases pertaining to the Indian freedom movement were heard by the court.
The court heard arguments from notable national leaders, including Jawaharlal Nehru, Motilal Nehru, and Mahatma Gandhi.
It was involved in matters pertaining to civil liberties and press freedom as well as other legal struggles against British colonial power.
- Seminal Decisions
Numerous rulings rendered by the Allahabad High Court have significantly influenced Indian law and administration. The court’s landmark ruling against Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1975 ruled that her election to the Lok Sabha was invalid because of electoral fraud. The Emergency (1975–77) was ultimately imposed as a result of this decision.
- The Effects of Judicial Reforms
The court has made a substantial contribution to the advancement of administrative law, human rights, and constitutional law in India. Numerous well-known Allahabad High Court judges have gone on to become Chief Justices of India and Supreme Court justices. It has played a significant role in the development of legal doctrines pertaining to governance, religious freedom, and civil rights.
- Development and Growth
In 1948, a permanent bench was formed in Lucknow to handle the growing judicial workload.
With 160 judges sanctioned, the Allahabad High Court grew over time to become one of the biggest in India.
In addition to being a court, the Allahabad High Court has played a vital role in India’s political, legal, and constitutional development. It remains a cornerstone of justice in Uttar Pradesh and throughout India, both for its part in the liberation movement and its influence on contemporary Indian democracy.
Read More: Latest News and Judgements From Calcutta High Court
Benches of Allahabad High Court
Benches of Allahabad High Court
The Allahabad High Court has two main benches:
1. Principal Bench at Allahabad
- Located in Allahabad (Prayagraj), Uttar Pradesh, this is the main bench of the High Court.
- It has jurisdiction over most of Uttar Pradesh and handles cases related to civil, criminal, constitutional, and administrative laws.
- The Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court presides over this bench.
2. Lucknow Bench
- Established in 1948, the Lucknow Bench handles cases from 12 districts of central and eastern Uttar Pradesh.
- The bench was set up for administrative convenience and ease of access for people from these regions.
- It deals with cases related to government policies, administrative decisions, service matters, and public interest litigation.
Districts under Lucknow Bench’s Jurisdiction:
- Lucknow
- Hardoi
- Sitapur
- Lakhimpur Kheri
- Rae Bareli
- Unnao
- Faizabad (Ayodhya)
- Sultanpur
- Gonda
- Bahraich
- Barabanki
- Shrawasti
Demand for Additional Benches
- Over the years, there have been demands for additional benches in Western and Eastern Uttar Pradesh, particularly in cities like Meerut, Agra, and Gorakhpur, to reduce the workload and make justice more accessible.
- However, no additional benches have been officially approved yet.
The Allahabad High Court operates through its two benches, ensuring the efficient administration of justice across Uttar Pradesh. While the Principal Bench in Allahabad handles most cases, the Lucknow Bench serves as an important judicial center for central and eastern districts.
Read More: Latest News and Judgements From Bombay High Court
Organization of Allahabad High Court
The Allahabad High Court is one of the largest and oldest High Courts in India. It is structured systematically to ensure the smooth functioning of the judiciary in Uttar Pradesh.
1. Structure of the Court
The Allahabad High Court is organized into the following main divisions:
A. Chief Justice & Judges
- The court is headed by the Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court.
- It has a sanctioned strength of 160 judges, making it one of the largest High Courts in India.
- Judges are appointed by the President of India based on recommendations from the Collegium of the Supreme Court.
B. Benches of the High Court
- Principal Bench (Allahabad) – Handles cases from most districts of Uttar Pradesh.
- Lucknow Bench – Handles cases from 12 central and eastern districts of UP.
C. Administrative and Judicial Sections
The court has different sections for handling judicial and administrative matters:
1. Administrative Sections
- Registrar General: Senior judicial officer who oversees court administration.
- Registrars & Deputy Registrars: Handle judicial records, case filing, and scheduling.
- Court Officers & Staff: Assist in the daily functioning of the court.
2. Judicial Sections
- Civil Courts Section: Handles civil matters, including land disputes, property issues, and commercial litigation.
- Criminal Courts Section: Deals with criminal appeals, bail applications, and criminal revisions.
- Writ & Constitutional Section: Handles Public Interest Litigations (PILs) and cases related to constitutional rights.
- Family & Service Matters Section: Deals with matrimonial disputes, government employment, and service rules.
2. Case Distribution & Jurisdiction
- Cases are allocated based on subject matter and territorial jurisdiction.
- The High Court has original, appellate, and supervisory jurisdiction over subordinate courts.
- It has the power to issue writs under Article 226 of the Constitution.
3. Subordinate Judiciary Under Allahabad High Court
The High Court supervises lower courts in Uttar Pradesh, including:
- District Courts (Civil & Criminal)
- Family Courts
- Tribunals (Revenue, Consumer, Labor, etc.)
- Special Courts (CBI, Anti-Corruption, etc.)
The Allahabad High Court is a well-organized judicial institution with a clear hierarchical structure to manage its vast jurisdiction in Uttar Pradesh. It ensures efficient justice delivery through its Chief Justice, judges, registrars, judicial officers, and administrative staff.
Appointment of Judges
- The President appoints Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court, in consultation with the Chief Justice of India (CJI).
- The CJI is required to consult with two senior-most judges of the Supreme Court.
- The President appoints the other Judges to the Allahabad High Court (excluding the Chief Justice) by warrant under his hand and seal.
- The procedure involves consulting with the Chief Justice of India (CJI) and following the recommendation of the Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court.
- Additionally, there is an obligation upon CJI to seek input from the two most senior judges in the Supreme Court, while the Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court must also consult with their two most senior associate judges when suggesting a candidate for a High Court appointment.
List of chief justices
| S. N. | Chief Justice | Term start | Term end | Governor (oathed by) | ||||||
| English | Hindi | |||||||||
| 1 | Walter Morgan | वाल्टेर मॉर्गन | 1866 | 1871 | ||||||
| 2 | Robert Stuart | रॉबर्ट स्टुअर्ट | 1871 | 1884 | ||||||
| 3 | William Comer Petheram | विलियम कॉमर पैथराम | 1884 | 1886 | ||||||
| 4 | John Edge | जॉन एज | 1886 | 1898 | ||||||
| 5 | Louis Addin Kershaw | लुइस एडिन केर्शौ | 1898 | |||||||
| 6 | Arthur Strachey | आर्थर स्ट्राचे | 1898 | 1901 | ||||||
| 7 | John Stanley | जॉन स्टानले | 1901 | 1911 | ||||||
| 8 | Henry George Richards | हेनरी जॉर्ज रिचर्ड्स | 1911 | 1919 | ||||||
| 9 | Edward Grimwood Mears | एडवर्ड ग्रिमवुड मेयर्स | 1919 | 1932 | ||||||
| 10 | Shah Muhammad Sulaiman | शाह मुहम्मद सुलेमान | 1932 | 1937 | ||||||
| 11 | John Gibb Thom | जॉन गिब थॉम | 1937 | 1941 | ||||||
| 12 | Iqbal Ahmad | इक़बाल अहमद | 1941 | 1946 | ||||||
| 13 | Kamala Kanta Verma | कमल कांत वर्मा | 1946 | 1947 | ||||||
| After Independence | ||||||||||
| 14 | Bidhu Bhushan Malik | बिधु भूषण मलिक | 1947 | 1955 | Sarojini Naidu | |||||
| 15 | O.H. Mootham | ओ. एच. मूथाम | 1955 | 1961 | Kanhaiyalal Maneklal Munshi | |||||
| 16 | Manulal Chunilal Desai | मनुलाल चुन्नीलाल देसाई | 1961 | 1966 | Burgula Ramakrishna Rao | |||||
| 17 | Vashishtha Bhargava | वशिष्ठ भार्गव | 25 February 1966 | 7 August 1966 | Bishwanath Das | |||||
| 18 | Nasirullah Beg | नसरुल्लाह बेग | 1966 | 1967 | ||||||
| 19 | Vidyadhar Govind Oak | विद्याधर गोविन्द ओक | 1967 | 1971 | Bezawada Gopala Reddy | |||||
| 20 | Shashi Kanta Verma | शशि कांत वर्मा | 1971 | 1973 | ||||||
| 21 | Dhatri Saran Mathur | धातृ शरण माथुर | 1973 | 1974 | Akbar Ali Khan | |||||
| 22 | Kunwar Bahadur Asthana | कुंवर बहादुर अस्थाना | 1974 | 1977 | Marri Chenna Reddy | |||||
| 23 | D. M. Chandrashekhar | डी. एम्. चंद्रशेखर | 1977 | 1978 | Ganpatrao Devji Tapase | |||||
| 24 | Satish Chandra | सतीश चंद्र | 1978 | 1983 | ||||||
| 25 | Mahesh Narain Shukla | महेश नारायण शुक्ल | 1983 | 1985 | Chandeshwar Prasad Narayan Singh | |||||
| 26 | Hriday Nath Seth | ह्रदय नाथ सेठ | 1986 | Mohammed Usman Arif | ||||||
| 27 | Kalmanje Jagannatha Shetty | कलमञ्जे जगन्नाथ शेट्टी | 1986 | 1987 | ||||||
| 28 | Dwarka Nath Jha | द्वारका नाथ झा | 1987 | |||||||
| 29 | Amitav Banerji | अमिताव बनर्जी | 1987 | 1988 | ||||||
| 30 | Brahma Nath Katju | ब्रह्म नाथ काटजू | 1988 | 1989 | ||||||
| 31 | B. P. Jeevan Reddy | बी. पी. जीवन रेड्डी | 1990 | 1991 | B. Satya Narayan Reddy | |||||
| 32 | Manoj Kumar Mukherjee | मनोज कुमार मुख़र्जी | 1991 | 1993 | ||||||
| 33 | S. S. Sodhi | एस. एस. लोधी | 1994 | 1995 | Motilal Vora | |||||
| 34 | A. Lakshman Rao | ए. लक्ष्मण राव | 1995 | 1996 | ||||||
| 35 | D. P. Mohapatra | डी. पी. महापात्र | 1996 | 1998 | ||||||
| 36 | N. K. Mitra | एन. के. मित्रा | 1999 | 2000 | Suraj Bhan | |||||
| 37 | Shyamal Kumar Sen | श्यामल कुमार सेन | 8 May 2000 | 24 November 2002 | ||||||
| 38 | Tarun Chatterjee | तरुण चटर्जी | 31 January 2003 | 26 August 2004 | Vishnu Kant Shastri | |||||
| 39 | Ajoy Nath Ray | अजय नाथ रे | 11 January 2005 | 26 January 2007 | T. V. Rajeswar | |||||
| 40 | Hemant Laxman Gokhale | हेमंत लक्ष्मण गोखले | 7 March 2007 | 8 March 2009 | ||||||
| 41 | Chandramauli Kumar Prasad | चंद्रमौली कुमार प्रसाद | 20 March 2009 | 7 February 2010 | ||||||
| 42 | Ferdino Rebello | फ़र्डिनो रेबेल्लो | 26 June 2010 | 30 July 2011 | Banwari Lal Joshi | |||||
| 43 | Syed Rafat Alam | सय्यद रफात आलम | 4 August 2011 | 8 August 2012 | ||||||
| 44 | Shiva Kirti Singh | शिवा कीर्ति सिंह | 17 October 2012 | 18 September 2013 | ||||||
| 45 | Dhananjaya Y. Chandrachud | धनञ्जय यशवंत चंद्रचूड़ | 31 October 2013 | 12 May 2016 | ||||||
| 46 | Dilip Babasaheb Bhosale[4] | दिलीप बाबासाहेब भोसले | 30 July 2016 | 23 October 2018 | Ram Naik | |||||
| 47 | Govind Mathur | गोविन्द माथुर | 14 November 2018 | 13 April 2021 | ||||||
| 48 | Sanjay Yadav | संजय यादव | 14 April 2021 | 26 June 2021 | Anandiben Patel | |||||
| 49 | Rajesh Bindal | राजेश बिंदल | 11 October 2021 | 12 February 2023 | ||||||
| 50 | Pritinker Diwaker | प्रीतिंकर दिवाकर | 26 March 2023 | 21 November 2023 | ||||||
| 51 | Arun Bhansali | अरुण भंसाली | 5 February 2024 | Incumbent | ||||||
Jurisdiction
Original & Writ Jurisdiction:
- In its original jurisdiction, it deals with matters involving significant public interest, constitutional issues, and matters of importance.
- The High Court also has the authority to issue writs under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, 1950, which empowers it to protect fundamental rights and issue orders or Directions to any person or authority within its jurisdiction.
Appellate Jurisdiction:
- The High Court also functions as an appellate court, hearing appeals from lower courts within its territorial jurisdiction.
- This includes appeals from subordinate civil and criminal courts.
Civil Jurisdiction:
- The Allahabad High Court handles civil cases, including but not limited to property disputes, contract disputes, family matters, writ petitions, and public interest litigations (PILs).
Criminal Jurisdiction:
- The High Court has jurisdiction over criminal cases, including appeals against convictions and sentences from lower criminal courts.
- It may also deal with matters related to bail, anticipatory bail, and other criminal proceedings.
Supervisory Jurisdiction:
- The High Court exercises supervisory jurisdiction over lower courts within its territorial jurisdiction.
- It can issue orders and directions to ensure that the lower courts function within the bounds of law.
Taxation Jurisdiction:
- The Allahabad High Court may also have jurisdiction in taxation matters, including cases related to income tax, sales tax, and other tax disputes.
Reporting of Cases in Allahabad High Court
- Allahabad Criminal Cases
- Allahabad Civil Journal
- Allahabad Daily Judgements
- Allahabad Law Journal
- Allahabad Rent Cases
- Allahabad Weekly Cases
- Judicial Interpretation on Crimes (JIC)
- Lucknow Civil Decisions (LCD)
- Revenue Decisions
- U.P. Local Bodies and Education Cases
