File Photo: Patna High Court
The centenary celebrations of the Patna High Court will be held tomorrow in the presence of President Pranab Mukherjee.
Records related to history of the Patna High Court says, the foundation stone of the existing Patna High Court building was laid on December 1, 1913 by the then Viceroy Lord Charles Hardine.
On completion, the building was formally opened by Lord Hardine on February 3, 1916 when the court started its function with a Chief Justice and six Judges.
The territory of Bihar and Orissa (now Odisha) were earlier under the jurisdiction of the High court of judicature of Fort William (Calcutta) in Bengal. A letter patent issued on February 16 by King George V constituted the High court of judicature at Patna in the province of Bihar and Orissa.
The Patna High Court then exercised jurisdiction over the territory of the province of Bihar and Orissa till July 26, 1948 when a separate High Court was constituted for the Orissa.
In 1972, the Patna High Court opened a circuit bench at Ranchi and on November 15, 2000 after creation of Jharkhand, a separate High Court at Ranchi came into existence.
Sir Justice Edward Maynard Des Champs Chamier was the first Chief Justice of the Patna High Court. He held office from March 1, 1916 to October 30, 1917.
Incumbent Chief Justice of the Patna High Court L Narasimha Reddy is the 38th person to occupy the post. Two judges of the Patna High Court, Justice Bhuvaneshwar Prasad Sinha and Justice Lalit Mohan Sharma were elevated as Chief Justice of India (CJI).
While Justice Sinha was CJI from 1959 to 1964, Justice Sharma occupied the post from 1973 to 1987.
First President of Independent India Rajendra Prasad and the first President of the Constituent Assembly of India Sachchidanand Sinha had practised in the Patna High Court.
Union Information and Technology minister Ravi Shankar Prasad used to practise law in the Patna High Court before plunging in politics full time and becoming a minister in the NDA government of Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
The building of the Patna High Court has been decorated for the centenary celebration.
Senior Superintendent of Police Jitendra Rana said elaborate security arrangements has been made in view of President's visit.