{{Short description|High Court of Jharkhand}} {{Use Indian English|date=November 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox high court | court_name = Jharkhand High Court | native_name = | image = HC Jharkhand RNC.jpg | imagesize = | caption = Jharkhand High Court building | image2 = | established = {{start date and age|df=yes|2000|11|15}} | jurisdiction = {{flagicon image|Government banner of Jharkhand.png}} Jharkhand | location = Ranchi, Jharkhand | coordinates = {{coord|23.3144|N|85.2700|E|display=inline,title}} | type = Presidential appointment with confirmation of the Chief Justice of India and Governor of respective state. | authority = Constitution of India | appealsto = Supreme Court of India | terms = Mandatory retirement at age 62 | positions = 25 | website = {{URL|jharkhandhighcourt.nic.in}} | chiefjudgetitle = Chief Justice | chiefjudgename = M. S. Sonak | termstart = 9 January 2026 }}

'''Jharkhand High Court''' is the High Court for the Indian state of Jharkhand. It was established on 15 November 2000, following the bifurcation of the state of Bihar and succeeded the jurisdiction previously exercised by the Patna High Court over the region.<ref>{{Cite web |title=High Court of Jharkhand, India |url=https://jharkhandhighcourt.nic.in/ |access-date=2025-08-19 |website=jharkhandhighcourt.nic.in}}</ref> Since 24 May 2023, the High Court has been functioning from a newly constructed complex at Dhurwa, Ranchi, which was inaugurated by President Droupadi Murmu.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2023-05-24 |title=Droupadi Murmu inaugurates country's largest High Court in Jharkhand |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/droupadi-murmu-inaugurates-countrys-largest-high-court-in-jharkhand-101684932823492.html |access-date=2025-08-19 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref> The campus is spread across 165 acres, making it the largest High Court complex in India by area.<ref>{{Cite web |title=PRESIDENT OF INDIA INAUGURATES NEW BUILDING OF THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND |url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1927035 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240914144748/https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1927035 |archive-date=2024-09-14 |access-date=2025-08-19 |website=www.pib.gov.in}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-05-24 |title=President Murmu inaugurates new Jharkhand High Court building |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/president-murmu-inaugurates-new-jharkhand-high-court-building-1221640.html |access-date=2025-08-19 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}</ref>

==History== thumb|Old building of Jharkhand High Court at Doranda, Ranchi thumb|Aerial view of the new Jharkhand High Court building, functioning since 24 May 2023

A circuit bench of the Patna High Court was established at Ranchi on 6 March 1972 under clause 36 of the letters patent of the Patna High Court. The circuit bench became the permanent bench of the Patna High Court, by the ''High Court at Patna (Establishment of Permanent Bench at Ranchi) Act 1976'' (Act 57 of 1976) on 8 April 1976. This permanent bench finally became the Jharkhand High Court on reorganisation of Bihar state on 15 November 2000, under the Bihar Reorganisation Act, 2000.

In 2013, the Government of Jharkhand approved plans for a new High Court complex at Dhurwa, Ranchi, in view of the growing caseload and limited capacity of the old building at Doranda. Construction began in 2015 on an area of about 165 acres, of which 72 acres were earmarked for the main court complex. The foundation stone was laid with the aim of creating a modern judicial infrastructure and work continued for nearly eight years.

The new building of the Jharkhand High Court was inaugurated by the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, on 24 May 2023 in the presence of the Chief Justice of India, D.Y. Chandrachud, and other dignitaries.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-05-17 |title=Prez to open new HC bldg on May 24 |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ranchi/prez-to-open-new-hc-bldg-on-may-24/articleshow/100290861.cms |access-date=2025-08-20 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> Spread over 165 acres, it is the largest High Court complex in India by area. The project was built at an estimated cost of around ₹550 crore for construction, while including land acquisition and associated facilities, the overall cost has been estimated at close to ₹1,000 crore.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-05-28 |title=Jharkhand’s new HC complex biggest in the country by area: Few things to know |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/jharkhands-new-hc-complex-biggest-by-area-8631215/ |access-date=2025-08-20 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>

The main structure contains 25 air-conditioned courtrooms with adjoining judges’ chambers, ante rooms and waiting areas. The Chief Justice’s block includes a video conference hall, kitchen, dining area and a large conference room. For the Bar, the complex provides two large halls with a combined capacity of 1,660 advocates, 76 senior advocate chambers with attached toilets and pantries, 369 additional lawyer chambers, recreation halls for men and women, clerks’ halls and a bar room. The central lobby measures nearly 14,000 square feet.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-05-28 |title=Jharkhand’s new HC complex biggest in the country by area: Few things to know |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/jharkhands-new-hc-complex-biggest-by-area-8631215/ |access-date=2025-08-20 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>

Supporting infrastructure includes 12 conference rooms, registrar chambers, offices for the Advocate General and public prosecutors, auditoriums, committee halls, typist blocks, dispensaries, barracks and two canteens. The complex also provides parking space for about 2,000 vehicles and is under surveillance with more than 500 CCTV cameras. Built with sustainable features, the new campus has a 2,000 KVA solar system that supplies about 40% of its power needs, a sewage treatment plant of 200 KLD capacity to recycle water, and more than 4,400 trees planted within the grounds.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |last2= |first2= |date=2023-05-24 |title=President Draupadi Murmu to inaugurate country's 'largest' high court in Jharkhand {{!}} Know Details |url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/president-draupadi-murmu-inaugurates-country-largest-high-court-jharkhand-ranchi-secretariat-raj-bhavan-women-conference-khunti-2023-05-24-872225 |access-date=2025-08-20 |website=India TV News |language=en}}</ref> The entire facility is designed as a modern judicial hub combining functionality, security, and environmental sustainability.<ref>{{Cite news |title=President Draupadi Murmu to inaugurate country's 'largest' high court on May 24 |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/jharkhand/president-draupadi-murmu-to-inaugurate-countrys-largest-high-court-on-may-24/cid/1938966 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603231918/https://www.telegraphindia.com/jharkhand/president-draupadi-murmu-to-inaugurate-countrys-largest-high-court-on-may-24/cid/1938966 |archive-date=2023-06-03 |access-date=2025-08-20 |language=en}}</ref>

== Chief Justice and Judges == Jharkhand High Court is permitted to have a maximum of 25 judges of which 20 may be permanently appointed and 5 may be additionally appointed. Currently, it has 15 judges.<ref>{{Cite web|title=SITTING JUDGES OF HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND {{!}} High Court of Jharkhand, India|url=https://jharkhandhighcourt.nic.in/sitting-judges-high-court-jharkhand|access-date=2019-02-04|website=jharkhandhighcourt.nic.in}}</ref>

Justice Mahesh Sharadchandra Sonak is the current Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court, having assumed office on 9 January 2026.<ref>{{Cite news |last=PTI |date=2026-01-09 |title=Justice Mahesh Sharadchandra Sonak sworn in as Chief Justice of Jharkhand High Court |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/jharkhand/justice-mahesh-sharadchandra-sonak-sworn-in-as-chief-justice-of-jharkhand-high-court/article70489581.ece |access-date=2026-01-09 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> {{See also|List of sitting judges of the high courts of India#Jharkhand High Court}}

==Former Chief Justices== === List of former Chief Justices of High Court of Jharkhand ===

{| class="wikitable" width="70%" !# !'''Portrait''' !Chief Justice !Term |- !1 |106x106px | Vinod Kumar Gupta |5 December 2000&ndash; 4 March 2003 |- !2 |106x106px | P. K. Balasubramanyan |10 March 2003&ndash;26 August 2004 |- !-- |111x111px |S. J. Mukhopadhaya |26 August 2004&ndash;28 February 2005 |- !3 |133x133px | Altamas Kabir | 1 March 2005&ndash;8 September 2005 |- !4 | | Nelavoy Dhinakar |4 December 2005&ndash; 9 June 2006 |- !-- |111x111px | S. J. Mukhopadhaya |10 June 2006&ndash; 16 September 2006 |- !-- |120x120px | M.Y. Eqbal |17 September 2006 – 17 September 2006 |- !5 | | M. Karpaga Vinayagam |17 September 2006– 15 May 2008 |- !6 |127x127px | Gyan Sudha Misra |13 July 2008&ndash;30 April 2010 |- !-- | |Sushil Harkauli |1 May 2010&ndash;21 August 2010 |- !7 | | Bhagwati Prasad |22 August 2010&ndash;12 May 2011 |- !-- | | Prakash Chandra Tatia |13 May 2011&ndash;10 Sep 2011 |- !8 | | Prakash Chandra Tatia |11 September 2011 – 3 August 2013 |- !-- |125x125px |Dhirubhai Naranbhai Patel |4 August 2013 – 15 November 2013 |- !9 |141x141px | R. Banumathi |16 November 2013 – 12 August 2014<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20140106143416/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-11-16/india/44137413_1_new-chief-justice-oath-jharkhand-hc]</ref> |- !-- |125x125px |Dhirubhai Naranbhai Patel |13 August 2014 – 31 October 2014 |- !10 | |Virender Singh |1 November 2014 – 6 October 2016 |- !-- |106x106px |Pradip Kumar Mohanty |7 October 2016 – 23 March 2017 |- !11 |106x106px |Pradip Kumar Mohanty |24 March 2017 – 9 June 2017 |- !-- |125x125px |Dhirubhai Naranbhai Patel |10 June 2017 – 10 August 2018 |- !12 |141x141px |Aniruddha Bose |11 August 2018 – 23 May 2019 |- !-- |125x125px |Dhirubhai Naranbhai Patel |24 May 2019 – 6 June 2019 |- !-- | |Prashant Kumar |7 June 2019 – 30 August 2019 |- !-- |109x109px |Harish Chandra Mishra |30 August 2019 – 16 November 2019 |- !13 |120x120px |Ravi Ranjan |17 November 2019 – 19 December 2022 |- !-- |115x115px |Aparesh Kumar Singh |20 December 2022 – 19 February 2023 |- !14 |106x106px |Sanjaya Kumar Mishra |20 February 2023 – 28 December 2023 |- !-- |113x113px |Shree Chandrashekhar |29 December 2023 – 4 July 2024 |- !15 |129x129px |Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi |5 July 2024 – 19 July 2024 |- !-- |106x106px |Sujit Narayan Prasad |20 July 2024 – 24 September 2024 |- !16 |117x117px |M. S. Ramachandra Rao |25 September 2024 – 21 July 2025 |- !-- |106x106px |Sujit Narayan Prasad |22 July 2025 – 22 July 2025 |- !17 |116x116px |Tarlok Singh Chauhan |23 July 2025 – 8 January 2026 |- !18 |113x113px |M. S. Sonak |9 January 2026 – ''Incubment'' |}

== Judges elevated to Supreme Court ==

=== Currently serving === {| class="wikitable static-row-numbers static-row-header" width="92%" style="text-align:center" ! rowspan="2" |# ! rowspan="2" |Name of the Judge ! rowspan="2" |Image ! rowspan="2" |Date of Appointment as Judge ! rowspan="2" |Date of elevation to Supreme Court ! rowspan="2" |Date of Retirement ! colspan="3" |Tenure ! rowspan="2" |Immediately preceding office |- !As HC Judge !As Supreme Court Judge !Total tenure<br />{{small|(including both SC and HC)}}<br /> |- !1 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |}

=== Former Judges === {| class="wikitable static-row-numbers static-row-header" width="92%" style="text-align:center" ! rowspan="2" |# ! rowspan="2" |Name of the Judge ! rowspan="2" |Image ! rowspan="2" |Date of Appointment as Judge ! rowspan="2" |Date of elevation to Supreme Court ! rowspan="2" |Date of Retirement ! colspan="3" |Tenure ! rowspan="2" |Immediately preceding office ! rowspan="2" |Remarks |- !As HC Judge !As Supreme Court Judge !Total tenure<br />{{small|(including both SC and HC)}}<br /> |- !1 |Mokhtarajama Yusuf Eqbal |179x179px |{{Dts|1996|5|9|format=dmy}} |{{dts|2012|12|24|format=dmy}} |{{Dts|2016|2|12|format=dmy}} |{{ayd|1996|5|9|2012|12|23|duration=on}} |{{ayd|2012|12|24|2016|2|12|duration=on}} |{{ayd|1996|5|9|2016|2|12|duration=on}} |36th CJ of Madras HC | |}

== Judges of Jharkhand High Court who served as Chief Justice of India == {| class="wikitable sortable static-row-numbers static-row-header" width="92%" style="text-align:center" |+CJIs whose Parent High Court was not Jharkhand but they served in Jharkhand !# ! Name of the Chief Justice ! Image ! Date of Appointment as Chief Justice ! Date of Retirement ! Tenure ! Appointed By !Date of elevation to Supreme Court ---- Nominated by ! Total tenure in Supreme Court (including as CJI) ! Tenure in Jharkhand High Court ! Office at the time of elevation to Supreme Court ! Remarks |- | 1 | Altamas Kabir | 100px | 29 September 2012 | 18 July 2013 | 293 days | Pranab Mukherjee |{{Dts|2005|9|9|format=dmy}} ---- Ramesh Chandra Lahoti | 7 years, 314 days |{{Dts|2005|5|1|format=dmy}}{{Spaced en dash}}{{Dts|2005|9|8|format=dmy}}<br /><small>({{ayd|2005|5|1|2005|9|8}})</small> |Chief Justice of Jharkhand High Court | 39th Chief Justice of India |}

== Judges elevated as Chief Justices ==

==References== {{reflist}} * [http://www.ebc-india.com/lawyer/hcourts.htm Jurisdiction and Seats of Indian High Courts] * [http://pib.nic.in/archieve/lreleng/lyr2003/roct2003/30102003/r301020036.html Judge strength in High Courts increased]

==External links== * [http://jharkhandhighcourt.nic.in/ The Jharkhand High Court website]

{{High courts of India}}

Category:Government of Jharkhand Category:2000 establishments in Jharkhand Category:Courts and tribunals established in 2000