West Bengal Judiciary


The state of West Bengal is blessed with a systematic and organized Judiciary that helps in the quick delivery of justices. Unlike United States of America, India does not follow a Federal system of Government. India adheres to the Unitary System of governance under which the Supreme Court is the highest Judicial authority that is supported by the High Courts of each state.

At the top of the State Judiciary system stands the High Court of Kolkata, which is headed by Chief Justice, Shri Surinder Singh Nijjar. The High Court of the state boasts of being one of the oldest High Courts of India. Constructed in the Gothic Architectural style, the High Court stands tall with its over imposing structures amidst the busy and crowded streets of Kolkata. There are two types of Courts under the High Court of Kolkata. One is the Criminal Court that deals with criminal matters and the other is the Civil Court that deals with civil issues.

The highest Court in the district to try the criminal cases is the Session Judges Court. In the metropolitan areas like Kolkata, criminal cases are tried by the Metropolitan Magistrates. The civil cases are tried by the City Civil Courts by experienced Judicial Officers.

The Labor Court and the Industrial Tribunals deal with cases pertaining to the laborers and industrial disputes of the state of West Bengal.

The Judiciary in West Bengal is arranged in a pyramidal order. There are two parallel pyramids of Courts- the Civil Courts and the Criminal Courts. The peaks of the two pyramids meet at the High Court of West Bengal. All the other Courts fall under the strict supervision of the High Court of Kolkata.

Chief Justice West Bengal

One of the most revered position, Justice Surinder Singh Nijjar is the newly appointed Chief Justice of West Bengal. A man of principles, Justice Surinder Singh Nijjar was born in the year 1949 on 7th of June. At a tender age of twelve, the Chief Justice went to England to pursue his studies and did his graduation in Law from the University of London in 1972.

Justice Surinder Singh Nijjar started his career as a advocate in the Bar Council of London. However, his attachment to his mother land brought him back to India and he was appointed as the advocate of Punjab and Haryana Court from 28th of April, 1977. Thereafter, Justice Surinder Singh Nijjar never looked back in his career. He served as a advocate in the District Courts, the Departmental Authorities, and Central Administrative Tribunals of Chandigarh. The eminent Justice also worked as a Standing Counsel to the several nationalizes banks, Universities and Governmental Organizations and acquired vast expanse of knowledge and experience.

In 1989 Justice Surinder Singh Nijjar was promoted to the post of the Senior Advocate. The eminent Jurist served in the High Courts of Chandigarh, Punjab, Haryana and Punjab as Additional Judge where he is known to have delivered landmark judgments on various important issues. Realizing his vast potentialities, Justice Surinder Singh Nijjar was elevated to the post of acting Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana Court. However all his hard work was crowned with glory when Justice Surinder Singh Nijjar was awarded the post of the Chief Justice of West Bengal on the 7th of March in the year 2007.

As the Chief Justice of West Bengal, Justice Surinder Singh Nijjar took several landmark decisions that exposed his true potentialities and helped in the restoration of peace in the state as well

City Civil Court West Bengal

The City Civil Court of Kolkata deals with all the important civil matters and helps in the quick delivery of justices to the petitioners. Located in the Kiran Shankar Roy Road of Kolkata, the City Civil Court boasts of being one of the ancient Civil Courts of India. The City Civil Court of Kolkata is known for its transparency and the effectiveness with which the eminent Judicial Officers deal with the cases.

The City Civil Court of Kolkata has a rich judicial history. The Court has given landmark decisions on various issues affecting the interest of the petitioners. At present the City Civil Court is led by the eminent personalities from the field of Judiciary. The Judges of the Court are known for the transparency of the cases.

Under the strict supervision of the High Court of the state of West Bengal, the City Civil Court of Kolkata deals with all the civil matters with exceptional clarity and precision. The advocates and the Lawyers prepare their cases according to the strict rules and regulations.

High Court West Bengal

One of the oldest High Court of India, the Calcutta High Court was established by the Letters Patent of 14th of May in 1862. Justice P. Chakravartti was the first Indian Judge to preside over the various proceedings of the Court. The Calcutta High Court has a rich judicial history which is known to deliver famous landmark judgments.

The High Court of Calcutta is known to deliver quick decisions on the numerous pending cases. Any citizen of the state can apply in the High Court if the petitioner is not satisfied with the decision of the Lower Courts of the state.

Recently the High Court of West Bengal gave several important decisions regarding the issue of industrialization of the state. The significant decisions of the High Court helped to restore the peace and decorum in the state of West Bengal

Labour Court and Tribunal West Bengal