E-Paper
High Court museum has rare collection
Allahabad High Court is the fourth oldest and the biggest High Court in Asia. Originally the High Court, then known as the High Court for the North Western Provinces, functioned at Agra from 1866 to 1868. In 1869, it moved to Allahabad.
Allahabad High Court is the fourth oldest and the biggest High Court in Asia. Originally the High Court, then known as the High Court for the North Western Provinces, functioned at Agra from 1866 to 1868. In 1869, it moved to Allahabad.
Apart from these, numerous others facts are available at the musuem located in Allahabad High Court which is eagerly awaiting the inquisitive visitors.
Quite unknown to the citizens, this museum displays articles associated with historical truths attached with High Court. It provides an exclusive opportunity to peep into the glorious past of the exalted building.
While in 1966, the valuable records were put on display as an exhibition of court records, the decision to shift them in the present musuem hall was taken in the year 2003, informed AA Khan, incharge of the museum. "Since then, several articles have been added to the collection," he said.
Rare photographs in black and white adorn the entire hall. Starting with the eminent members of the Bar such as Pt Jawahar Lal Nehru, Purushottam Das Tandon and many others, there are snapshots of chief justices (all 39 of them) who have glorified the image of the high court since 1866 to the present period.
There are rare images of Sir Walter Morgan, the first chief justice of Allahabad High Court, Justice Mahmood, the first Indian judge who was elevated to the Bench of this court and Shah Mohammad Sulaiman (1932 to 1937), the first Indian Chief Justice of the high court.
The foundation of the present High Court building was laid on March 18, 1911.
The building was opened by Viceory and Governor General of India on November 27, 1916 reads the caption of the photograph depicting the opening ceremony.
Interestingly, before the present building was constructed the High Court functioned from 1869 to 1916 at the building on SN Marg which now houses Board of Revenue.
There is also the portrait of Queen Victoria. The attractive miniature model of the court building draws attention. The British Emblem too has been kept in the museum. The witness box is also displayed with the archaic inkpots kept next to it on a table. Now, Supreme Court has asked the inkpots to be displayed at the museum there, said AA Khan.
There are photographs of Chief Justices and judges who were elevated to the Supreme Court of India.
A picture of Justice SN Katju, referred as the real architect of museum, adorns the wall.
The scarlet gown worn by the judges of the Queen's Bench has been displayed along with a wig which was made of horse's hair or nylon.
Most of the orders which are quite old, are written in Persian. The photocopy of the historical judgement in election petition of Indira Gandhi in 1975, judgement in Chauri Chaura case (February 4, 1922) along with the rare photostat copy of partition compromise decree bearing seal of Qazi of Benares referred by Sant Tulsidas Ji is also a part of the collection. "The decree depicts the writing of Tulsidas Ji," said AA Khan. A rare clock which is said to be more than 100 years old, is also one of the invaluable articles. "The musuem is open for the visitors from 10 am to 4 pm," informed Khan.
