Question

The High Court of West Bengal (Kolkata) has got the additional jurisdiction of _____.
A. Arunachal Pradesh
B. Mizoram
C. Andaman and Nicobar
D. Sikkim

Answer 1

Hint:1. This place is a Union Territory and is the southernmost part in the jurisdiction of India.
2. There is only one representative from this place in the Lok Sabha.

Complete answer:
The High Court in West Bengal (Kolkata) is the oldest High Court in India. It was established on 1st July 1862 under the High Court Act and it was called the ‘High Court of Judicature at Fort William’. Even when Calcutta’s name was changed to Kolkata in 2001, the name of the Court remained the same. In 2016 the bill to rename the court was introduced in the Lok Sabha. It is not yet passed by the Parliament and hence the court retains its old name.
A. Arunachal Pradesh – Arunachal Pradesh does not have a High Court of its own. The Guwahati High Court of Guwahati, Assam has jurisdiction over Arunachal Pradesh. For this purpose, the Itanagar Permanent Bench was established at Itanagar on 12th August 2000. It was inaugurated on this date by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of India, Dr. A. S. Anand.
B. Mizoram – The Aizawl Permanent Bench of the Guwahati High Court was established on 5th July 1990 and was inaugurated by the Chief Justice, Mr. Justice S. B. Mukherjee. Therefore, the jurisdiction of Mizoram is also under the High Court of Guwahati.
C. Andaman and Nicobar – The court has always had its jurisdiction over West Bengal. After the Calcutta High Court (Extension of Jurisdiction) Act, 1950 the jurisdiction of the Calcutta High Court was extended to cover Andaman and Nicobar Island. The Circuit Bench of the Calcutta High Court is located in Port Blair, the capital of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
D. Sikkim – Sikkim has the Sikkim High Court for carrying out its jurisdictions. The court is seated at Gangtok which is the capital of the state.

Thus, the correct answer is Option (C) Andaman and Nicobar.

Note: 1. Recently, President Ram Nath Kovind finalized the extension of the jurisdiction of the court to cover the Jalpaiguri division by setting up the Jalpaiguri Circuit Bench.
2. Under the jurisdiction of the Jalpaiguri Circuit Bench, there will be five districts, Darjeeling, Cooch Behar, Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri and Kalimpong.