Prime Minister inaugurates Permanent Judicial Museum of the Bombay High Court.
Prime Minister today inaugurated the Permanent Judicial Museum at the Bombay High Court, conceived and set up as part of the Sesquicentennial Celebration of the court, which now has jurisdiction over the states of Maharashtra, Goa and the Union Territories of Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli. This is the first of its kind museum in Maharashtra. Prime Minister was given a walk through down memory lane, about the rich history of the Bombay High Court and various milestones associated with it.
After inaugurating the heritage museum, Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi held interaction with the judges and legal luminaries associated with the High Court. The Governor of Maharashtra Mr. C Vidyasagar Rao, Maharashtra Chief Minister Mr. Devendra Fadnavis, Union Law Minister, Mr. Sadananda Gowda and Justice Mohit Shah, Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court were also present.
About the Museum.
The museum located on the ground floor of the heritage building of the Bombay High Court displays antique items associated with the rich history of the 150 year old court. The first court held here was the Mayor’s Court, which functioned between 1726 and 1798. The Recorder’s Court followed next and was in existence till 1824. Then there was Supreme Court of Bombay, between 1824 and 1862, which later turned into the Bombay High Court in 1862.
On display at this small museum are the Barrister Certificates issued to Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi in 1891 and Mohammed Ali Jinnah in 1896. The Barrister Certificates of Dr. B R Ambedkar, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, K M Munshi and the first Chief Justice of India, M C Chhagla among others are also displayed. Other items like old candle stands with original glass casing, inkpots and paperweights, an original wig, a silver mace and other judicial paraphernalia are some of the other attractions.
A canon dating back to 1850, which was left behind at the court premises, after the demolition of Bombay Fort in 1864 is of historic significance. There is also a depiction of how court rooms functioned in the 19th century before electricity came, with cloth fan hung above the judge, pulled by staff.
PIB Mum | MD.
