Jharkhand High Court

Last updated

Jharkhand High Court
झारखंड उच्च न्यायालय
High Court of Jharkhand at Dhruva, Ranchi.jpg
The High Court building
Jharkhand High Court
Interactive map of Jharkhand High Court
झारखंड उच्च न्यायालय
23°18′51″N85°15′36″E / 23.3141°N 85.26°E / 23.3141; 85.26
Established15 November 2000;25 years ago (2000-11-15)
JurisdictionGovernment banner of Jharkhand.png Jharkhand
Location Ranchi, Jharkhand
Coordinates 23°18′51″N85°15′36″E / 23.3141°N 85.26°E / 23.3141; 85.26
Composition method Presidential appointment with confirmation of the Chief Justice of India and Governor of respective state.
Authorised by Constitution of India
Appeals to Supreme Court of India
Judge term lengthMandatory retirement at age 62
Number of positions25
Website jharkhandhighcourt.nic.in
Chief Justice
Currently Tarlok Singh Chauhan
Since24 July 2025

Jharkhand High Court is the High Court for the Indian state of Jharkhand. It was established on 15 November 2000 under the Bihar Reorganisation Act, 2000 , following the bifurcation of the state of Bihar and succeeded the jurisdiction previously exercised by the Patna High Court over the region. [1] Since 24 May 2023, the High Court has been functioning from a newly constructed complex at Dhurwa, Ranchi, which was inaugurated by President Droupadi Murmu. [2] The campus is spread across 165 acres, making it the largest High Court complex in India by area. [3] [4]

Contents

History

Old building of Jharkhand High Court at Doranda, Ranchi Jharkhand High Court.jpg
Old building of Jharkhand High Court at Doranda, Ranchi
Aerial view of the new Jharkhand High Court building, functioning since 24 May 2023 Jharkhand High Court aerial view.jpg
Aerial view of the new Jharkhand High Court building, functioning since 24 May 2023

A circuit bench of the Patna High Court was established at Ranchi on 6 March 1972 under clause 36 of the letters patent of the Patna High Court. The circuit bench became the permanent bench of the Patna High Court, by the High Court at Patna (Establishment of Permanent Bench at Ranchi) Act 1976 (Act 57 of 1976) on 8 April 1976. This permanent bench finally became the Jharkhand High Court on reorganisation of Bihar state on 15 November 2000, under the Bihar Reorganisation Act, 2000.

In 2013, the Government of Jharkhand approved plans for a new High Court complex at Dhurwa, Ranchi, in view of the growing caseload and limited capacity of the old building at Doranda. Construction began in 2015 on an area of about 165 acres, of which 72 acres were earmarked for the main court complex. The foundation stone was laid with the aim of creating a modern judicial infrastructure and work continued for nearly eight years.

The new building of the Jharkhand High Court was inaugurated by the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, on 24 May 2023 in the presence of the Chief Justice of India, D.Y. Chandrachud, and other dignitaries. [2] [5] Spread over 165 acres, it is the largest High Court complex in India by area. The project was built at an estimated cost of around ₹550 crore for construction, while including land acquisition and associated facilities, the overall cost has been estimated at close to ₹1,000 crore. [6]

The main structure contains 25 air-conditioned courtrooms with adjoining judges’ chambers, ante rooms and waiting areas. The Chief Justice’s block includes a video conference hall, kitchen, dining area and a large conference room. For the Bar, the complex provides two large halls with a combined capacity of 1,660 advocates, 76 senior advocate chambers with attached toilets and pantries, 369 additional lawyer chambers, recreation halls for men and women, clerks’ halls and a bar room. The central lobby measures nearly 14,000 square feet. [7]

Supporting infrastructure includes 12 conference rooms, registrar chambers, offices for the Advocate General and public prosecutors, auditoriums, committee halls, typist blocks, dispensaries, barracks and two canteens. The complex also provides parking space for about 2,000 vehicles and is under surveillance with more than 500 CCTV cameras. Built with sustainable features, the new campus has a 2,000 KVA solar system that supplies about 40% of its power needs, a sewage treatment plant of 200 KLD capacity to recycle water, and more than 4,400 trees planted within the grounds. [8] The entire facility is designed as a modern judicial hub combining functionality, security, and environmental sustainability. [9]

List of Chief Justices

Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan is the chief justice of the Jharkhand High Court since 23 July, 2025. [10]

#PortraitChief JusticeTerm
1 Justice Vinod Kumar Gupta.jpg Vinod Kumar Gupta 2000 – 7 March 2003
2 Justice PK Balasubramanyan.jpg P. K. Balasubramanyan 10 March 200326 August 2004
-- Sudhansu Jyoti Mukhopadhaya.jpg S. J. Mukhopadhaya 26 August 20042005
3 Justice Altamas Kabir.jpg Altamas Kabir 1 March 20058 September 2005
4 Nelavoy Dhinakar 4 December 200510 June 2006
-- Sudhansu Jyoti Mukhopadhaya.jpg S. J. Mukhopadhaya 10 June 20062006
-- Justice M.Y. Eqbal.jpg M.Y. Eqbal 2006 – 17 September 2006
5 M. Karpaga Vinayagam 2006–2008
6 Gyan Sudha Misra.jpg Gyan Sudha Misra 13 July 200829 April 2010
-- Sushil Harkauli 30 April 201021 August 2010
7 Bhagwati Prasad (judge) 22 August 201012 May 2011
8 Prakash Chandra Tatia 13 May 201111 Sep 2011
Prakash Chandra Tatia 11 May 2011 – 12 November 2013
9 Justice R. Banumathi.jpg R. Banumathi 16 November 2013 – 13 August 2014 [11]
-- Justice DN Patel.jpg Dhirubhai Naranbhai Patel 14 August 2014 – 31 October 2014
10 Virender Singh 1 November 2014 – 6 October 2016
11 Justice Pradip Kumar Mohanty.jpg Pradip Kumar Mohanty 7 October 2016 – 8 June 2017
-- Justice DN Patel.jpg Dhirubhai Naranbhai Patel 9 June 2017 – 3 August 2018
12 Justice Aniruddha Bose.jpg Aniruddha Bose 4 August 2018 – 23 May 2019
-- Justice DN Patel.jpg Dhirubhai Naranbhai Patel 24 May 2019 – 6 June 2019
-- Prashant Kumar 7 June 2019 – 30 August 2019
-- Justice Harish Chandra Mishra.jpg Harish Chandra Mishra 30 August 2019 – 16 November 2019
13 Chief Justice Ravi Ranjan.jpg Ravi Ranjan 17 November 2019 – 19 December 2022
-- Justice Harish Chandra Mishra.jpg Harish Chandra Mishra20 December 2022 – 19 February 2023
14 Justice Sanjaya Kumar Mishra.jpg Sanjaya Kumar Mishra 20 February 2023 – 28 December 2023
-- Justice Shee Chandrashekhar.jpg Shree Chandrashekhar 29 December 2023 – 4 July 2024
15 Justice Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi.jpg Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi 5 July 2024 – 19 July 2024
-- Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad.png Sujit Narayan Prasad20 July 2024 – 24 September 2024
16 Justice M.S. Ramachandra Rao.jpg M. S. Ramachandra Rao 25 September 2024 – 21 July 2025
17 Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan.png Tarlok Singh Chauhan 23 July 2025 – Incumbent

Sitting Judges

Jharkhand High Court is permitted to have a maximum of 25 judges of which 20 may be permanently appointed and 5 may be additionally appointed. Currently, it has 15 judges. [12]

Judges elevated to Supreme Court

Currently serving

#Name of the JudgeImageDate of Appointment as JudgeDate of elevation to Supreme CourtDate of RetirementTenureImmediately preceding office
As HC JudgeAs Supreme Court JudgeTotal tenure
(including both SC and HC)
1------------------

Former Judges

#Name of the JudgeImageDate of Appointment as JudgeDate of elevation to Supreme CourtDate of RetirementTenureImmediately preceding officeRemarks
As HC JudgeAs Supreme Court JudgeTotal tenure
(including both SC and HC)
1 Mokhtarajama Yusuf Eqbal Justice M.Y. Eqbal.jpg 9 May 199624 December 201212 February 201616 years, 229 days3 years, 51 days19 years, 280 days 36th CJ of Madras HC

Judges of Jharkhand High Court who served as Chief Justice of India

CJIs whose Parent High Court was not Jharkhand but they served in Jharkhand
#Name of the Chief JusticeImageDate of Appointment as Chief JusticeDate of RetirementTenureAppointed ByDate of elevation to Supreme Court

Nominated by

Total tenure in Supreme Court (including as CJI)Tenure in Jharkhand High CourtOffice at the time of elevation to Supreme CourtRemarks
1 Altamas Kabir Justice Altamas Kabir.jpg 29 September 201218 July 2013293 days Pranab Mukherjee 9 September 2005

Ramesh Chandra Lahoti

7 years, 314 days1 May 2005 8 September 2005
(130 days)
Chief Justice of Jharkhand High Court 39th Chief Justice of India

References

  1. "High Court of Jharkhand, India". jharkhandhighcourt.nic.in. Retrieved 19 August 2025.
  2. 1 2 "Droupadi Murmu inaugurates country's largest High Court in Jharkhand". Hindustan Times. 24 May 2023. Retrieved 19 August 2025.
  3. "PRESIDENT OF INDIA INAUGURATES NEW BUILDING OF THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND". www.pib.gov.in. Archived from the original on 14 September 2024. Retrieved 19 August 2025.
  4. "President Murmu inaugurates new Jharkhand High Court building". Deccan Herald. 24 May 2023. Retrieved 19 August 2025.
  5. "Prez to open new HC bldg on May 24". The Times of India. 17 May 2023. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 20 August 2025.
  6. "Jharkhand's new HC complex biggest in the country by area: Few things to know". The Indian Express. 28 May 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
  7. "Jharkhand's new HC complex biggest in the country by area: Few things to know". The Indian Express. 28 May 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
  8. "President Draupadi Murmu to inaugurate country's 'largest' high court in Jharkhand | Know Details". India TV News. 24 May 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
  9. "President Draupadi Murmu to inaugurate country's 'largest' high court on May 24". Archived from the original on 3 June 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
  10. PTI (23 July 2025). "Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan sworn in as Chief Justice of Jharkhand High Court". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  11. "SITTING JUDGES OF HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND | High Court of Jharkhand, India". jharkhandhighcourt.nic.in. Retrieved 4 February 2019.