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| Bombay High Court Mumbai, barandbench.com |
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Nestled amidst the bustling and crowded Fort area, the Bombay High Court stands as one of the finest examples of colonial-era judicial architecture in India and is among the oldest High Courts in the country. Its origins lie in the Indian High Courts Act of 1861, which empowered the British Crown to establish High Courts in the presidency towns. Accordingly, the Charter of the Bombay High Court was issued on June 26, 1862, and the court was inaugurated on August 14 of the same year. Though judicial work began earlier, the imposing present building took shape later, with construction commencing in April 1871 and concluding in November 1878.
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Designed by British engineer Colonel J. A. Fuller, who got inspiration from a German castle, the Bombay High Court building is executed in the Gothic Revival style, inspired by early English Gothic architecture prevalent across Europe. The structure reflects the British intent to convey moral authority, permanence, and supremacy through awe-inspiring architecture. Built largely built with lime mortar, at a cost of about Rs. 16.44 lakh, the building measures approximately 562 feet in length and 187 feet in width, making it one of the largest court buildings in Asia at the time of its completion.
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| Arcaded corridor Bombay High Court cntraveller.in |
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| Entrance Bombay High Court cntraveller.in |
Architecturally, the court, being a public building, is remarkable for its restrained grandeur, utilitarian constraints and symbolic detailing. The central tower, flanked by two octagonal towers on the western side, dominates the skyline. Atop the battlements stands the iconic statue of the Goddess of Justice, blindfolded and holding the sword and scales, signifying impartiality and fairness. Complementing her are statues representing Justice and Mercy, reinforcing the moral ideals associated with the judicial institution. In the six story massive structure, the vaulted arched corridors provide both easy mobility across the building, with ventilators open to the sea on the west. Milton tiling and various subsidiary staircases connecting various levels, and conical roofs with statues of Justice and Mercy atop this building enhance the aesthetic and highlight the utilitarian aspects of the public building.
Several intriguing sculptural elements enrich the building’s narrative character. Heads of wolves and foxes appear in unexpected corners, while on the upper floors one finds a sculptural adaptation of Aesop’s fable of the monkey and the two litigious cats, with the monkey depicted holding uneven scales of justice. Popular tradition attributes this to a disgruntled Parsi subcontractor who, having lost a legal battle, expressed his protest through stone carvings—an unusual but telling instance of social commentary embedded in architecture. To avoid space crunch then ,an extension building was added in 1909 to meet the increasing demand.
In the present day, despite the renaming of Bombay as Mumbai in 1995, the institution continues to be known as the Bombay High Court, underscoring its historical continuity. It exercises jurisdiction over Maharashtra, Goa, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Daman and Diu, with benches at Nagpur, Aurangabad, and Panaji. More than a century after its completion, the Bombay High Court steeped in history and tradition remains fully functional, symbolizing the enduring legacy of British architectural influence blended with India’s evolving judicial system.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombay_High_Court
https://victorianweb.org/history/empire/india/100.html
https://www.cntraveller.in/story/buy-yourself-a-ticket-to-tour-the-bombay-high-court
Author: K. N .Jayaraman
