The Delhi High Court Act, 1966
Administered Ministry: Ministry of Law and Justice / Department of Justice
Act details
| Short title | The Delhi High Court Act, 1966 |
|---|---|
| Long title | An Act to provide for the constitution of a High Court for the Union territory of Delhi, for the extension of the jurisdiction of that High Court to the Union territory of Himachal Pradesh and for matters connected therewith. |
| Act number | 26 of 1966 |
| Act year | 1966 |
| Enactment date | 5 Sep 1966 |
| Ministry | Ministry of Law and Justice / Department of Justice |
| Department | Department of Justice |
| Jurisdiction | Central (Parliament of India) |
| Sections | 22 |
| Schedules | 1 |
| Status | Not repealed |
| Last checked on India Code | 3 Nov 2026 |
| Source | India Code, Government of India |
Summary
Summary of the Delhi High Court Act, 1966
Key Provisions
1. Establishment & Seat
• Establishes the High Court of Delhi for the Union territory of Delhi.
• Principal seat in Delhi (or as appointed by the President).
2. Jurisdiction
• Initial Jurisdiction: Inherits jurisdiction over Delhi from the High Court of Punjab.
• Ordinary Original Civil Jurisdiction: For suits exceeding ₹2 Crores
• Extension to Himachal Pradesh (conditional on notification):
• Assumes jurisdiction over Himachal Pradesh.
• Abolishes the Court of the Judicial Commissioner of Himachal Pradesh.
• Gains ordinary original civil jurisdiction for suits over ₹50,000 in the region.
3. Operational & Financial
• Judges' Remuneration: Charged on the Consolidated Fund of India.
• Enrolment of Legal Practitioners: Similar to the High Court of Punjab.
• Procedure & Practice: Mirrors the High Court of Punjab with necessary adjustments.
4. Transition & Legal Implications
• Transfer of Proceedings: Delhi-related cases transferred from the High Court of Punjab.
• Savings Clause: Protects Constitutional provisions unless explicitly altered.
• Difficulty Removal & Law Adaptation: Empowers adjustments for a smooth transition.
Legislative history
Legislative History:
The Delhi High Court Act, 1966
● Act Title - The Delhi High Court Act, 1966
● Act Number / Year - 26 of 1966
● Act ID (India Code) - 196626
● Presidential Assent Date - September 5, 1966
● Enforcement Date - May 1, 1967
● Nodal Ministry - Ministry of Law and Justice
Precedent & Historical Rationale
● Establishment of a Dedicated High Court for Delhi - Enacted to provide for the constitution of a separate High Court for the Union Territory of Delhi, relieving the Circuit Bench of the Punjab High Court from managing Delhi's expanding legal volume.
● Extension of Territorial Jurisdiction - Formulated to extend the jurisdiction of the newly established High Court of Delhi to the Union Territory of Himachal Pradesh (until the statehood of Himachal Pradesh was established in 1971).
Parliamentary Trajectory & Enactment
● Formulation - Introduced by the Ministry of Law and Justice to fulfill the administrative and judicial needs arising from Delhi's growing population and political significance as the national capital.
● Parliamentary Passage - Debated and passed by both Houses of Parliament (Third Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha) during the 1966 monsoon session.
● Presidential Assent - Received Presidential Assent on September 5, 1966.
● Enforcement - Enforced on May 1, 1967
Source - Official Record of Parliament, India Code, and Ministry of Law and Justice.