Madras High Court, Supreme appellate court in Chennai, India
Madras High Court is a large courthouse in central Chennai with red brick walls, pointed towers and arched openings. The structure rises several storeys with spacious inner courtyards and connected wings that house numerous courtrooms and administrative chambers.
The Madras High Court was one of three charter high courts created by letters patent granted by the British Crown on 26 June 1862, replacing the Supreme Court of Madras that had sat since 1817. It worked in a makeshift building in Periamet until the present complex at George Town was inaugurated on 12 July 1892. Its jurisdiction covers Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, with a Madurai bench opened on 24 July 2004.
Courtrooms combine English legal traditions with Tamil proceedings, and lawyers wear black robes during hearings. Outside the main hall, visitors and relatives wait under shaded arcades, while law offices line the surrounding streets and form a busy legal community.
The complex is located in the old town, and visitors should choose respectful clothing if attending hearings. Security checks take place at the entrance, so allow extra minutes to pass through screening.
Judges here are preceded by orderlies carrying a ceremonial silver mace, a British-era practice abandoned in most Indian high courts and the Supreme Court. The building also housed a lighthouse raised to 175 ft during construction, closed after a new one was built at Marina beach.
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