SESQUICENTENNIAL CELEBRATIONS LAHORE HIGH COURT. November 26, 2016 (2016-12)

The Lahore High Court is one of the oldest courts of judicature in South Asia with its principal seat at Lahore and jurisdiction extending all over the Punjab. The court is situated on The Mall with the State Bank of Pakistan on its eastern side, and the General Post Office on the western flank.

The Lahore High Court has been built in the Indo-Saracenic style harmonising the various historic monuments and landscape of Lahore. The architect of the building was Mr Brossington, while the work was executed under the direction of the Executive Engineer, Mr. J.E. Hilton. The building was completed at a total cost of Rs 3,21,837, and was operational from August, 1887.

The building of the High Court is in the form of a quadrangle and is built of bricks in lime mortar, with all projections and cornices made of specially designed bricks and arch fillings of terra cotta trellis work. The front arches of the judges' verandah, porch, and parts of the main towers are built of Nowshera marble with trellis work. The original roof of the Chief Justice's courtroom was built of double Allahabad tiling, while the roof timbers were made of fine deodar wood, and the doors of fine teak wood with cravings on the frame.

The twin towers which adorn the building are carried up square for half the height, above which they are fluted and have bold cones thrown out. This model follows the pattern the Qutab Minar in Delhi. The total height of the central towers is 95 feet, with a circular staircase leading towards them. Between the two tower is the emblem of the Lahore High Court which contains two sheaf's of wheat facing each other in a circular shape encompassing a crescent and a star resting on a scale, graced with a Quranic verse: 'To do Justice which is closer to Piety, giving a central focus to the work of the court. The front is adorned with the official flag of the High Court and the flag of Pakistan.

The whole High Court is linked with spacious verandah's which are covered with terra cotta, trellis or tracery. The verandah of the principal front is surrounded by an old style Arabic honey-comb pattern comice. A marble fountain ornaments the middle of the courtyard, and with its surroundings trees provides a peaceful and tranquil atmosphere for the adjudication of justice.

The Lahore High Court traces its origins to the establishment of the Saddar Adalat Court in the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh [1799-1839]. However, it was in the aftermath of the annexation of the Punjab in 1849 by the East India Company that a formal structure was established with the Board of Administration being established in 1849, which exercised the powers of the Saddar Adalat. The Cheif Commissioner replaced the Board in 1853, and Sir Robert Montgomery was appointed as the first Judicial Commissioner of the Punjab. The Judicial Commissioner was the Cheif Judge and his court was the final Court of Appeal. By the 1860's the work of the Judicial Commissioner had increased manifold and it was felt that a separate court was needed in the province. Hence, by the Cheif Court Act IV of 1866, the Chief Court of the Punjab was established with two judges, which was later expanded to include more judges in later years. The first Muslim judge of the Chief Court was Mr Justice Shah Din who was appointed to the bench in October 1908.

The Chief Court of the Punjab was elevated as the High Court of Judicature at Lahore on March 21, 1919 under Letters Patent of His Majesty the King-Emperor George V. Under the same Letters Patent the strength of the High Court was fixed at six judges with Sir Henry A. Rattigan, Kt., appointed as the first Chief Justice. In 1920, Sir Henry Rattigan was succeeded by The Rt. Hon. Sir Shadi Lal, Kt, PC, who became the first Indian to rise to the honour of a Chief Justice in India. The Lahore High Court had jurisdiction over the all of the Punjab and Delhi, and from 1920 to 1943 had extra-territorial jurisdiction over British Subjects in the Chinese province of Kashgar.

In August 1947, the jurisdiction of the Lahore High Court was curtailed by the High Court (Panjab) Order 1947, which created a separate court for East Punjab, Sir Abdul Rashid, Kt, the Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court had the singular privilege and honour of administering the Oath of Office to His Excellency the Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, Governor General of Pakistan on August 15, 1947. In 1950, the same Sir Abdul Rashid became the first Chief Justice of Pakistan after the establishment of the Federal Court.

The Lahore High Court was merged with the Sind Chief Court and the Judicial Commissioner's Court in Peshawar under the High Court of West Pakistan (Establishment) Order XIX of 1955. The jurisdiction of the new West Pakistan High Court extended throughout West Pakistan with the principal seat remaining at Lahore. Both the 1956 and 1962 Constitutions of Pakistan reaffirmed the status of the High Court. The Lahore High Court regained its separate status again under the 1973 Constitution of Pakistan and its jurisdiction was restricted to the province of the Punjab. On January 1, 1981, three benches of the High Court were established at Multan, Rawalpindi and Bahawalpur, and now High Court judges could hold circuit courts throughout the province.

Since 1866 forty-four judges have graced the office of the Chief Justice with current incumbent, the forty-fifth, being the Honourable Mr Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, M.A. (Cantab.). The sanctioned strength of the High Court is sixty and it enjoys original and appellate jurisdiction under Article 175 of the Constitution of Pakistan.

At present the Lahore High Court is undergoing radical change to bring it up to date with current trends in jurisprudence and service. A modren system of case management has revolutionised the court and under the able guidance of the Honourable Chief Justice Mr Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah the Lahore High Court is ready to step into another era of ensuring justice for all.

On Celebration of 150 years of Lahore High Court, a Commemorative Postage Stamp of Rs.8/-denomination is being issued by Pakistan Post on November 26, 2016.