Jharkhand High Court

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Jharkhand High Court
झारखंड उच्च न्यायालय
High Court of Jharkhand at Dhruva, Ranchi.jpg
The High Court Building
Jharkhand High Court
23°18′51″N85°15′36″E / 23.3141°N 85.26°E / 23.3141; 85.26
Established15 November 2000;24 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 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]

Chief Justice

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

Chief JusticePortraitTerm
30Ravi S. Dhavan6 October 1999

15 November 2000

29B.M. Lal29 September 19956 October 1999
28D.P. Wadhwa29 September 199521 March 1997
27 G.P. Patnaik 19 May 199511 September 1995
26K. Venkataswamy19 September 19946 March 1995
25 K. S. Paripoornan 24 January 199411 June 1994
24Bimal Chandra Basak18 March 199121 October 1994
23Gangadhar Ganesh Sohani24 October 198917 December 1990
22Shushil Kumar Jha19 October 198923 October 1989
21Dipak Kumar Sen1 May 19881 May 1989
20Bhagwati Prasad Jha2 January 19882 January 1988
19Surjit Singh Sandhawalia29 November 198327 July 1987
18Krishna Ballabh Narayan Singh19 July 197612 March 1982
17Shyam Nandan Prasad Singh3 October 19741 May 1976
16Nand Lall Untwalia29 September 19723 October 1974
15Ujjal Narayan Sinha5 September 197029 September 1972
14Satish Chandra Mishra9 November 19685 September 1970
13Ramaswamy Lakshmi Narasimhan4 January 19652 August 1968
12Vaidyanathier Ramaswami30 April 19564 January 1965
11 Sudhansu Kumar Das 10 January 195530 April 1956
10 Syed Jafar Imam 3 September 195310 January 1955
9David Ezra Reuben1 June 19522 September 1953
8Pandit Lakshami Kant Jha8 April 19501 June 1952
7Sir Herbert Ribton Meredith25 January 19508 April 1950
6Sir Clifford Monmohan Agarwala9 January 194824 January 1950
5Sir Syed Fazl Ali19 January 194314 October 1946
4Sir Arther Trevor Harries10 October 193819 January 1943
3Sir Courtney Terrell 31 March 19286 May 1938
2Sir Thomas Fredrick Dawson Miller31 October 191731 March 1928
1Sir Edward Maynard Des Champs Chamier 1 March 191630 October 1917

List of Chief Justices

#PortraitChief JusticeTerm
31 Vinod Kumar Gupta 2000 – 7 March 2003
32P. K. Balasubramanyan10 March 200326 August 2004
33 S. J. Mukhopadhaya 26 August 20042005
34P. K. Balasubramanyan2005–2005
35S. J. Mukhopadhaya2005–2005
36Vinod Kumar Gupta2005–2005
37 Altamas Kabir 1 March 20058 September 2005
38 Nelavoy Dhinakar 4 December 200510 June 2006
39S. J. Mukhopadhaya10 June 20062006
40M.Y. Eqbal2006 – 17 September 2006
41Nelavoy Dhinakar2006–2006
42M.Y. Eqbal2006–2006
43 M. Karpaga Vinayagam 2006–2008
44 Gyan Sudha Misra 13 July 200829 April 2010
45 Sushil Harkauli 30 April 201021 August 2010
46 Bhagwati Prasad (judge) 22 August 201012 May 2011
47Prakash Chandra Tatia13 May 201111 Sep 2011
48 Prakash Chandra Tatia 11 May 2011 – 12 November 2013
49 R. Banumathi 16 November 2013 – 13 August 2014 [11]
50 Dhirubhai Naranbhai Patel 14 August 2014 – 31 October 2014
51 Virender Singh 1 November 2014 – 6 October 2016
52 Pradip Kumar Mohanty 7 October 2016 – 8 June 2017
53 Dhirubhai Naranbhai Patel 9 June 2017 – 3 August 2018
54 Aniruddha Bose 4 August 2018 – 23 May 2019
55 Dhirubhai Naranbhai Patel 24 May 2019 – 6 June 2019
56 Prashant Kumar 7 June 2019 – 30 August 2019
57 Harish Chandra Mishra 30 August 2019 – 16 November 2019
58 Dr. Ravi Ranjan 17 November 2019 – 17 November 2019
59Harish Chandra Mishra17 November 2019 -17 November 2019
60 Ravi Ranjan 17 November 2019 – 19 December 2022
61Harish Chandra Mishra20 December 2022 – 19 February 2023
62 Sanjaya Kumar Mishra 20 February 2023 – 28 December 2023
63Shree Chandrashekhar29 December 2023 – 4 July 2024
64 Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi 5 July 2024 – 19 July 2024
65Sujit Narayan Prasad20 July 2024 – 24 September 2024
66 M. S. Ramachandra Rao 25 September 2024 – 21 July 2025
67 Tarlok Singh Chauhan 23 July 2025 – "Incumbent''

Judges who served as Chief Justice of India

CJIs whose Parent High Court was 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.