Tag: the state judiciary : the high courts

The Supreme Court restored the Andhra Pradesh law providing 4% exclusive quota in jobs and educational institutions for backward groups among Muslims. The interim order passed by SC revived the law which was struck down as unconstitutional by a seven-judge bench of the Andhra high court on the 9ground that it violated the constitutional provision forbidding faith-based quota. 

The Kherlanji massacre (or Khairlanji massacre) refers to the 2006 murders of Dalits by menbers of the politically dominant Kunbi Maratha Caste. 14 July 2010, the Nagpur Bench of the High Court commuted the death penalty awarded to the six convicted to a 25-years rigorous imprisonment jail sentence.

The Guwahati High Court was established on 1 March 1948 after the Government of India Act 1935 was passed. It was originally known as the High Court of Assam and Nagaland but renamed as Guwahati High Court in 1971 by the North East Areas Act, 1971. It has the largest jurisdiction in terms of states, with its area covering the states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, and Mizoram.

A Judge of High Court holds the office until he completes the age of 62 years. Neither an additional or an acting judge can hold office beyond the age of 62 years. 

Every person appointed to be a Judge of a High Court shall, before he enters upon his office, make and subscribe before the Governor of the State, or some person appointed in that behalf by him, an oath or affirmation according to the form set out for the purpose in the Third Schedule.

The Supreme Court has original, appellate and advisory jurisdiction. 

High courts have original jurisdiction over those cases in which the High Court has authority to hear and decide cases in the first instance. High courts have the appellate jurisdiction to accept appeals against the decisions of District Courts, in civil as well as criminal matters.

On re-organization of the North-Eastern region by the North Eastern Area (Re-organization) Act, 1971, a common High Court was established for the five North-Eastern States namely; Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, Meghalaya and Tripura and the two Union Territories namely Union Territory of Mizoram and the Union Territory of Arunachal Pradesh and called as the Gauhati High Court. Thereafter, when Manipur attained Statehood, Imphal Bench of the Gauhati High Court came into existence on Friday, the 21st day of January 1972.

The high court is the highest court at the state level. Each High Court has jurisdiction over a state, a union territory or a group of states and union territories. Below the High Courts is a hierarchy of subordinate courts such as the civil courts, family courts, criminal courts and various other district courts. The High Courts are the principal civil courts of original jurisdiction in each state and union territory. 

A Judge of a High Court can be removed by the President on the ground of proved misbehaviour or incapacity on an address of each House of Parliament. Such an address should be supported by a majority of the total membership of the House and by two-thirds of the members present and voting.