The historic Madras High Court, built in 1892, showcases stunning Indo-Saracenic architecture. Located in Chennai, India, it holds appellate jurisdiction over Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. Alongside the Calcutta High Court and Bombay High Court, it ranks among the oldest high courts in India. Established by letters patent from Queen Victoria on June 26, 1862, it is one of four charter high courts set up in colonial Indiaâs presidency towns of Madras, Bombay, Allahabad, and Calcutta.The Madras High Court exercises original jurisdiction over Chennai and has extraordinary original jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters, as well as special original jurisdiction for issuing writs under the Indian Constitution. Spanning 107 acres, the court complex is one of the largest in the world, second only to the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom. Construction began in October 1888, following a design by J.W. Brassington and later refined by architect Henry Irwin, with assistance from J.H. Stephens. Brassington's original plan included a building with 11 court halls, estimated at ?945,000, designated for the High Court, the Small Causes Court, and the City Civil Court. The plan later expanded to include a building for lawyers' chambers and a walkway, increasing the budget to ?1,298,163. The complex features a 125-foot-tall standalone lighthouse, and the main tower, originally 142 feet high, rises to 175 feet with the addition of a dioptric light.The High Court is presided over by the Chief Justice and 74 other judges. From 1817 to 1862, the Supreme Court of Madras operated near the Chennai Beach railway station, and the High Court was located there until 1892. The current buildings were officially inaugurated on July 12, 1892, when the then Madras Governor, Beilby, Baron Wenlock, handed over the keys to Chief Justice Sir Arthur Collins. Although the city was renamed Chennai in 1996, the court retained its original name. The complex, located at the southern end of George Town, was built after relocating existing temples on the site. Initially designed to house the Small Causes Court and the City Civil Court, those courts have since been relocated to other buildings on the campus.
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