In which year were the first High Courts established at Calcutta, Bombay and Madras under the Indian High Courts Act, 1861?
- A.1858
- B.1861
- C.1862
- D.1866
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is C, 1862. The Indian High Courts Act was passed in 1861 and the courts it authorised were actually established the next year, so the three presidency High Courts at Calcutta, Bombay and Madras date from 1862. They took over the work of both the Supreme Courts set up under royal charters and the Sadar Diwani and Sadar Nizamat Adalats of the Company. Option A, 1858, is the year the Crown took over the government of India from the Company. Option B, 1861, is the year of the Act itself, and the pairing of the Act with the year the courts opened is the usual trap in this question. Option D, 1866, is the year the High Court for the North Western Provinces was established at Agra and soon moved to Allahabad, making it the fourth High Court in India.
Read the full article: British Administration in India: Services, Police and Courts
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