District Court, Ernakulam

ABOUT DISTRICT COURT

ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE -HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

The history of modern judicial administration in the District begins with the advent of the British. In Fort Cochin an auxiliary Zilla Court was set up in 1812 and a District Munsiff's Court was established in 1816. The former was abolished in 1845 and its place was taken by the principal Sudr Amin's Court. In 1875 the designation of the principal Sudr Amin was changed into Subordinate Judge. In the Cochin area the establishment of courts presided over by regularly paid judges was one of the reforms introduced by Col.Munro. By the Hukm-nama of April 1813 a Cheria or Subordinate Court was established at Tripunithura and a Valia or Huzur Court at Ernakulam. The subordinate Court was presided over by a Hindu and a Christian judge and a Sastri and the Huzur Court by the Dewan, a Hindu and a Christian Judge and a Sastri. All disputes were to be settled according to the provisions of the Dharma Sastras and the custom of the land. In 1818 during the Dewanship of Nanjappayya a Proclamation was issued by which the Huzur Court was converted into an Appeal Court and the Subordinate[...]