High Court
Also called: Article 214 · Topic: Judiciary: Independence, Structure, Judicial Review and Activism · NCERT: Class 6, Ch 10 "Grassroots Democracy – Part 1: Governance"; Class 9, Ch 6 "Democracy"; Class 11, Ch 6 "Judiciary"
Meaning
A High Court is the highest court in a state (Art. 214). Some High Courts serve two or more states or Union territories. A High Court hears appeals from lower courts. Under Art. 226 it can issue writs, which are court orders telling an authority to do something or stop doing it. It can issue writs to protect fundamental rights and "for any other purpose", so its writ power is wider than the Supreme Court's power under Art. 32. It supervises lower courts (Art. 227) and controls subordinate courts (Art. 235). It is also a court of record (Art. 215), so it can punish contempt of itself. High Court judges retire at 62.
Example
India has 25 High Courts, and the newest is the Andhra Pradesh High Court (2019) (verify current). A person whose legal right is violated by a state department can file a writ petition directly in their state's High Court under Art. 226.
Don't confuse with
- Supreme Court's Art. 32 power: Art. 32 is itself a fundamental right but covers only fundamental rights. Art. 226 also covers other legal rights.
Related concepts
- Integrated judiciary
- Supreme Court of India
- Yato Dharmastato Jayah
- Qualifications of Supreme Court judges
- Chief Justice of India
- Ad hoc judge
- Common High Court
- Retired judges sitting in High Courts