Allahabad High Court- Lucknow Bench

The High Court of Allahabad was established by a Royal Charter as the High Court of Judicature for the North Western Province on 17th March, 1866 and was seated at Agra. At that time, it was composed of the First Chief Justice – Sir Walter Morgan and five other Judges Alexander Ross, William Edwards, William Roberts, Francis Boyle Parson and Charles Arthur Turner.

The High Court had its first sitting on 18.06.1866 at Agra. Thereafter, it was shifted to Allahabad in the year 1869 in the building on Queen’s Road now Sarojini Naidu Road. The building in which the High Court, Allahabad is seated at present was designed by the famous architect Frank Lishman. Its foundation stone was laid by Sir John Stanley K.C., the then Chief Justice on 18.03.1911. The main building with dome shaped pedimented center, engrialed arches, stone balustrades and arcaded wings is a marvelous synthesis of western and eastern architectural styles. The construction of the building was completed on 27.11.1916 and the building was inaugurated by Lord Chelmsford, Viceroy & Governor General of India.

The building in which the Lucknow Bench of High Court is located was designed by Mr. W. G. Wood, Executive Engineer. Its construction began in the year 1900 during the administration of Sir A. P. Macdonnel, the erstwhile Lt. Governor of United Province of Agra and Oudh. The building incorporates the best of Rajasthan and Mughal architecture with domes and pillars.

The High Court got the new name of “High Court of Judicature at Allahabad” through a supplementary Letters Patent on 11.03.1919.

On 26th July, 1948 the Chief Court of Oudh merged with High Court of Judicature at Allahabad under the United Provinces High Court (Amalgamation) Order, 1948.

The High Court started functioning with 06 Judges and at present, when it is celebrating its 150th Anniversary, it has a sanctioned strength of 90 permanent and 70 additional Judges, a total 160 Judges, making it the biggest in the country.

Starting from Sri Walter Morgan the First Chief Justice, Shri Shah Mohammad Suleman the First Indian Chief Justice and Shri Bidhu Bhushan Malik, the First Chief Justice after Independence, the High Court, Allahabad has witnessed 45 Chief Justices so far.

The High Court of Allahabad has the distinction of having given the country five Chief Justices of India namely Sarvshri K.N. Wanchoo, Mirza Hameedullah Beg, Raghunandan Swarup Pathak, Kamal Narain Singh and V. N. Khare.

The Bar of the High Court in the beginning i.e. in 1866 consisted of 6 Advocates only but is population today is about 15000 as per the rolls maintained by the Registry of the High Court.

Mr. William Jardine was the first Government advocate of North West provinces appointed during 1869-70.

The Advocates of the High Court at Principal Seat at Allahabad are grouped into two different recognized associations namely High Court Bar Association and Advocates’ Association. The Advocates at High Court, Lucknow Bench have their own recognized Bar Association in the name of Oudh Bar Association.

At the time when the High Court shifted from Agra to Allahabad the Bar was composed of barristers of English and Irish Bar, the advocates of Scotland and Vakils. Mr. Ram Prasad, Mr. J. N. Chaudhary, Pt. Sundar Lal and Pt. Moti Lal Nehru were the first Vakils admitted to the status of advocates by the Chief Justice in 1896.

The Allahabad High Court took the lead when other High Courts rejected applications for enrollment of women lawyers, by enrolling Miss. Cornelia Sorabji as the First Indian Lady Vakil of Allahabad High Court on August 24, 1921 by a decision of the English Committee of the court (as the Administrative Committee was then called) consisting of Chief Justice Sir Grimwood Mears. In 1995 a retiring room for lady Advocates was inaugurated and was named as Cornelia Sorabji Hall.

The Registrar General is the Administrative Head of the High Court. He is assisted by several Officers & Officials collectively known as the Registry of the Court including Registrars, Joint Registrars, Dy. Registrars, Asst. Registrars, Section Officers, Review Officers, Asst. Review Officers and many others.

The High Court both at Allahabad and its Lucknow Bench has a Chief Justice’s Library and a Judges Library with more than 1,75,000 Commentaries / Acts / Manuals / Reports / Digests, 1,20,000 bound volumes of Journals starting from the year 1901 till date, 5,000 bound volumes of Gazettes (Central & State), Law Reporters, Magazines and News Papers.

The High Court has its own Museum both at Allahabad and Lucknow with a rich collection of judgments, deeds, photographs, dress, furniture and the original Charter of Her Majesty the Queen Victoria of 17th March, 1866 by which the High Court was created and established.

A Mediation & Reconciliation Centre has also been established in the High Court both at Allahabad & Lucknow for the persons who are willing to resolve their disputes amicably by negotiations.

The High Court is on its way to complete computerization. From the year 2009, the copies of Judgments & Orders are being uploaded on the Internet immediately after their delivery. A mammoth task of digitalization of all the files has been undertaken by the High Court. The High Court is proposing to make its entire work paperless by adopting E-filing and by running e-courts.

The High Court celebrated its Centenary in the year 1966. The Post Centenary Silver Jubilee Function of the High Court was celebrated in the year 1991.