What is the history of the Patna High Court?

The history of the Patna High Court is directly linked to the formation of the province of Bihar.

• Foundation: On December 1, 1913, the foundation stone of the Patna High Court building was laid by the Viceroy of India, Sir Charles Hardinge (Lord Hardinge of Penshurst). This followed the 1911 Delhi Durbar, where King George V had announced the creation of the new province of "Bihar and Orissa."
• Inauguration: The High Court building was formally inaugurated on February 3, 1916, by the same Viceroy, Lord Hardinge.
• Establishment: The High Court began its work on March 1, 1916, under the Letters Patent issued by the British Crown. Sir Edward Maynard Des Champs Chamier was its first Chief Justice.
• Jurisdiction: Initially, the Patna High Court had jurisdiction over the entire province of Bihar and Orissa.
  • In 1937, Orissa became a separate province, but the Patna High Court continued to exercise jurisdiction over it until a separate High Court for Orissa was established in 1948.
  • In 2000, the state of Jharkhand was carved out of southern Bihar. A new Jharkhand High Court was established in Ranchi, and the jurisdiction of the Patna High Court was redefined to the territory of the new state of Bihar.

The Patna High Court's building is renowned for its majestic architecture and has been the site of numerous significant judicial pronouncements over its 100+ year history.