Punjab and Haryana High Court – Serving as the Pillar of Judicial System
1. History & Formation The Punjab and Haryana High Court traces its roots to the Lahore High Court, established in 1919 to serve undivided Punjab and Delhi. Following Independence and the state reorganisation, it took its present form on 1st November 1966 as the common High Court for Punjab, Haryana, and the Union Territory of Chandigarh. Its principal seat has remained at Chandigarh since then. The court sits in Le Corbusier’s iconic Palace of Justice within the Chandigarh Capitol Complex, a landmark of modern architecture that is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 2. Jurisdiction & Scope The Punjab and Haryana High Court is the shared high court for Punjab, Haryana, and the Union Territory of Chandigarh, meaning a single court serves all three jurisdictions. It hears civil and criminal cases, decides constitutional and administrative law questions, and exercises both original and appellate powers across these regions. It also oversees the work of district and subord...