The High Courts and Subordinate Courts

Lesson

Part 1 — the High Court: who sits in it, how judges are chosen, and what kinds of cases it hears.

In this lesson you will

Describe the composition of a High Court and the qualifications of its judges
Explain how High Court judges are appointed, transferred and removed
Explain the original, appellate and revisory jurisdiction of a High Court
Compare the writ jurisdiction of a High Court with that of the Supreme Court

Part 1 at a glance

Diagram

An integrated system of courts

Hierarchy of courts in a State (schematic, not every court shown).

India has one connected judiciary: the Supreme Court at the top, a High Court for each State or group of States, and subordinate courts in every district.

Diagram

Composition of a High Court

Table of the composition of a High Court: a Chief Justice, other judges whose number the President fixes, additional judges for up to two years, acting judges during absence, and a common High Court for two or more States
Part of the High Court	Who decides or how
Chief Justice	One for each High Court
Other judges	As many as the President decides from time to time
Additional judges	For a temporary rise in work, up to 2 years
Acting judges	While a permanent judge is absent
Common High Court	Parliament may provide one for two or more States (Article 231)

A Chief Justice and as many other judges as the President decides.

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