Which of the following High Courts do not have a Bench?

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 3:

The correct option is **Gujarat High Court**. High Courts in India primarily sit at a principal seat, which is usually the capital or largest city of the state. However, to ensure easy access to justice for people living far from the principal seat and to address the huge volume of pending cases, the President of India, after consultation with the Chief Justice of India and the Governor of the state, may establish permanent or temporary benches (or circuit benches) in other cities within the state's jurisdiction. The Gujarat High Court, which was established in 1960 and is situated in Ahmedabad (now Sola, Ahmedabad), is unique among the options provided because it functions exclusively from its principal seat. Unlike many major High Courts covering large territories, the Gujarat High Court has historically resisted demands or proposals for establishing benches in other parts of the state, maintaining a centralized structure. Therefore, among the High Courts listed, the Gujarat High Court is the only one that does not operate with an additional permanent or circuit bench to serve different territorial jurisdictions within its state.

The incorrect option is 1:

The Bombay High Court does have multiple benches, making this option incorrect. Its principal seat is in Mumbai, but it holds jurisdiction over the states of Maharashtra and Goa, as well as the Union Territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. To manage this vast territorial jurisdiction and to ensure regional access to justice, the Bombay High Court has established three existing permanent benches: at Nagpur, Aurangabad (both in Maharashtra), and at Porvorim (in Goa). Furthermore, a fourth circuit bench at Kolhapur has also been sanctioned or established to improve judicial accessibility in the western region of Maharashtra. Thus, the Bombay High Court operates extensively through its principal seat and established benches.

The incorrect option is 2:

The Rajasthan High Court is also incorrect because it operates with a permanent bench in addition to its principal seat. The principal seat of the Rajasthan High Court is located in Jodhpur, in the western part of the state. Recognizing the need for convenient access for the eastern and more populous regions, particularly the state capital, a permanent bench of the Rajasthan High Court was established in Jaipur. This bench handles cases arising from certain districts in the eastern part of the state, while the principal seat handles cases from the rest of the districts. This dual-location arrangement confirms that the Rajasthan High Court functions with an established bench.

The incorrect option is 4:

The Calcutta High Court, which is the oldest High Court in India, is incorrect as it maintains both permanent and circuit benches. Its principal seat is located in Kolkata, West Bengal. Due to its jurisdiction extending beyond the state of West Bengal to the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, it holds a circuit bench at Port Blair to address legal matters originating from those islands. Additionally, a permanent circuit bench was established at Jalpaiguri, in North Bengal, to cater to the geographically remote northern districts of the state. Therefore, the Calcutta High Court clearly utilizes benches to extend its judicial reach across its jurisdiction.