Indian High Courts Act 1861
Topic: The Revolt of 1857 · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
The Indian High Courts Act was passed by the British Parliament in 1861, after the Crown took over India. It allowed High Courts to be set up in the three presidency towns. These new courts replaced two older systems: the Supreme Courts, set up by the Crown, and the Company's highest courts, the Sadar Adalats. This brought India's top courts into one system under Crown rule.
Example
Under this Act, High Courts were set up at Calcutta, Bombay and Madras in 1862. They are among the oldest High Courts in India and still work today.
Don't confuse with
- Supreme Court of India: it was set up in 1950 under the Constitution. The 1861 Act set up High Courts for the presidencies.
- Indian Civil Services Act 1861: passed in the same year, it dealt with top government jobs, not courts.
Related concepts
- Martial law of 1857
- Siege of Delhi 1857
- Siege of Lucknow
- Hugh Rose
- Kanpur massacres 1857
- Government of India Act 1858
- Lord Canning
- Queen Victoria's Proclamation
- Peel Commission 1859
- Indian Councils Act 1861