A Complete Guide to the Allahabad High Court: History, Important Judgements and Insights

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Introduction

One of India's oldest High Courts is the Allahabad High Court, which was founded in 1866. Operating within the jurisdiction of the Indian Constitution, it is the highest court in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Now Allahabad is known as Prayagraj. The Allahabad High Court has a architecturally impressive Indo-European building. It has options for both physical and virtual courts with e-filing and live streaming of cases. Its permanent bench in Lucknow deals with cases pertaining to Uttar Pradesh's central and eastern districts.

District Courts and Tribunals are among the lower courts under the High Court's supervision. With 160 judges officially sanctioned, it is one of India's largest High Courts. In civil, criminal, constitutional, and administrative cases, it is essential to the administration of justice.

The High Court is renowned for rendering important rulings that have shaped Indian governance and law. It is the center of several important rulings and has authority over a number of legal areas. As a result of handling a lot of cases, the Allahabad High Court has a backlog of pending cases, which is a problem that many Indian high courts experience.

Historical Significance of Allahabad High Court

Relevance to History of the Allahabad High Court
An important position in Indian judicial history is occupied by the Allahabad High Court. One of India's oldest High Courts, it was founded in 1866 and has been instrumental in forming the legal and constitutional landscape of the nation.

1. Creation and Development

at accordance with the Indian High Courts Act of 1861, the High Court of Judicature for the North-Western Provinces was founded at Agra in 1866. After being moved to Allahabad in 1869, it was formally renamed the Allahabad High Court in 1919. Together with the Calcutta, Bombay, and Madras High Courts, which were established to take the place of the Supreme Courts and Sadar Adalats, it was one of the country's initial High Courts.

2. Contribution to the Freedom Movement in India

Numerous historic cases pertaining to the Indian freedom movement were heard by the court.
The court heard arguments from notable national leaders, including Jawaharlal Nehru, Motilal Nehru, and Mahatma Gandhi.
It was involved in matters pertaining to civil liberties and press freedom as well as other legal struggles against British colonial power.

3. Seminal Decisions

Numerous rulings rendered by the Allahabad High Court have significantly influenced Indian law and administration. The court's landmark ruling against Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1975 ruled that her election to the Lok Sabha was invalid because of electoral fraud. The Emergency (1975–77) was ultimately imposed as a result of this decision.

4. The Effects of Judicial Reforms

The court has made a substantial contribution to the advancement of administrative law, human rights, and constitutional law in India. Numerous well-known Allahabad High Court judges have gone on to become Chief Justices of India and Supreme Court justices. It has played a significant role in the development of legal doctrines pertaining to governance, religious freedom, and civil rights.

5. Development and Growth

In 1948, a permanent bench was formed in Lucknow to handle the growing judicial workload.
With 160 judges sanctioned, the Allahabad High Court grew over time to become one of the biggest in India.

In addition to being a court, the Allahabad High Court has played a vital role in India's political, legal, and constitutional development. It remains a cornerstone of justice in Uttar Pradesh and throughout India, both for its part in the liberation movement and its influence on contemporary Indian democracy.

1. Principal Bench at Allahabad

Located in Allahabad (Prayagraj), Uttar Pradesh, this is the main bench of the High Court.
It has jurisdiction over most of Uttar Pradesh and handles cases related to civil, criminal, constitutional, and administrative laws.
The Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court presides over this bench.

2. Lucknow Bench

Established in 1948, the Lucknow Bench handles cases from 12 districts of central and eastern Uttar Pradesh.
The bench was set up for administrative convenience and ease of access for people from these regions.
It deals with cases related to government policies, administrative decisions, service matters, and public interest litigation.

Districts under Lucknow Bench’s Jurisdiction:

Lucknow
Hardoi
Sitapur
Lakhimpur Kheri
Rae Bareli
Unnao
Faizabad (Ayodhya)
Sultanpur
Gonda
Bahraich
Barabanki
Shrawasti

Demand for Additional Benches

Over the years, there have been demands for additional benches in Western and Eastern Uttar Pradesh, particularly in cities like Meerut, Agra, and Gorakhpur, to reduce the workload and make justice more accessible.
However, no additional benches have been officially approved yet.

The Allahabad High Court operates through its two benches, ensuring the efficient administration of justice across Uttar Pradesh. While the Principal Bench in Allahabad handles most cases, the Lucknow Bench serves as an important judicial center for central and eastern districts.

1. Structure of the Court

The Allahabad High Court is organized into the following main divisions:

A. Chief Justice & Judges

The court is headed by the Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court.
It has a sanctioned strength of 160 judges, making it one of the largest High Courts in India.
Judges are appointed by the President of India based on recommendations from the Collegium of the Supreme Court.

B. Benches of the High Court

Principal Bench (Allahabad) – Handles cases from most districts of Uttar Pradesh.
Lucknow Bench – Handles cases from 12 central and eastern districts of UP.

C. Administrative and Judicial Sections

The court has different sections for handling judicial and administrative matters:

1. Administrative Sections

Registrar General: Senior judicial officer who oversees court administration.
Registrars & Deputy Registrars: Handle judicial records, case filing, and scheduling.
Court Officers & Staff: Assist in the daily functioning of the court.

2. Judicial Sections

Civil Courts Section: Handles civil matters, including land disputes, property issues, and commercial litigation.
Criminal Courts Section: Deals with criminal appeals, bail applications, and criminal revisions.
Writ & Constitutional Section: Handles Public Interest Litigations (PILs) and cases related to constitutional rights.
Family & Service Matters Section: Deals with matrimonial disputes, government employment, and service rules.

2. Case Distribution & Jurisdiction

Cases are allocated based on subject matter and territorial jurisdiction.
The High Court has original, appellate, and supervisory jurisdiction over subordinate courts.
It has the power to issue writs under Article 226 of the Constitution.

3. Subordinate Judiciary Under Allahabad High Court

The High Court supervises lower courts in Uttar Pradesh, including:

District Courts (Civil & Criminal)
Family Courts
Tribunals (Revenue, Consumer, Labor, etc.)
Special Courts (CBI, Anti-Corruption, etc.)

The Allahabad High Court is a well-organized judicial institution with a clear hierarchical structure to manage its vast jurisdiction in Uttar Pradesh. It ensures efficient justice delivery through its Chief Justice, judges, registrars, judicial officers, and administrative staff.

A Complete Guide to the Allahabad High Court: History, Important Judgements and Insights