History

Before the creation of a separate Judgeship for Hazaribagh District, i.e. upto 3rd April 1949, the judicial Staff entertained for the purpose of Civil Justice consisted of the Judicial Commissioner of Chotanagpur, whose headquarters were at Ranchi, the Deputy Commissioner and Sub-Judge, who dealt only the executions of decree and certain insolvency and succession cases. There were two munsifs, one at Hazaribagh and other at Giridih and one Sub-Divisional Officer Munsif at Chatra. The Munsif of Giridih assisted in the disposal of rent suits in his special character as Deputy Collector. Additional Munsifs were appointed from time to time to cope with extra work. Till 1957, the Civil Suits upto the value of 4000 rupees were decided by permanent munsif, upto the value of Rs. 1000/- by additional munsif and above Rs. 4000/- by additional Sub-ordinate Judge. Whenever the court of Addl. Sub Judges were abolished, one of the Senior Deputy Magistrate of Hazaribagh used to be empowered with ex officio powers of a sub judge. The additional Sub-ordinate judge was also empowered by notification issued by the government to deal with succession cases up to the value of Rs. 10,000/- and insolvency cases up to value of Rs. 5000/-. He was also authorized to entertain appeals up to the value of Rs. 200/- in his court. In Chotanagpur rent suits were tried by the Revenue Courts not by the Civil Court. Appointment and dismissals of Civil Court staff working in the District of Hazaribagh were made by the Judicial Commissioner of Chottanagpur.

Before the creation of Judgeship, Criminal Justice was administered by the Judicial Commissioner of Chottanagpur, by the Deputy Commissioner who was vested with extended powers u/s 30 of Criminal Procedure Court, by the sub-divisional and other Magistrates and by the Honorary Magistrates vested with the power of various classes. The Judicial Commissioner used to come to Hazaribagh from time to time on Circuit duty to do the criminal business arising within the District. He also heard appeals from the decision of Magistrates of the First Class and the Deputy Commissioner heard appeals from the decision of second and third class Magistrates.

The Hazaribagh judgeship was created in 1949. Since then, the Judicial Staffs maintained for the purpose of Civil Justice in the District of Hazaribagh consisted of District Judge of Hazaribagh with its headquarters at Hazaribagh, a permanent Sub-Judge and two munsifs, one at Hazaribag and other at Giridih and one Sub-Divisional Officer- Munsif at Chatra. Whereas on the criminal side, the district of Hazaribagh consisted of a Sessions Judge, an Assistant Sessions Judge, Deputy Commissioner, Deputy Magistrates, Sub Deputy Magistrates and Honorary Magistrates. It is also pertinent to mention that there were a good number of cases under Motor Vehicle Act owing to hilly roads accident.