Cabinet approves the High Courts (Alteration of Names) Bill, 2016

Cabinet approves the High Courts Bill, 2016 for enabling changing the names of High Courts of Bombay and Madras

Question: Recently the Union Cabinet has given its approval to introduce ‘The High Courts (Alteration of Names) Bill, 2016’ in Parliament to facilitate the changing the names of High courts under which of the following act?
(a) Indian High Court Act, 1861
(b) Indian High Court Act, 1862
(c) Indian High Court Act, 1873
(d) None of the above
Ans: (a)
Related facts:

  • On 5 July 2016 the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its approval to introduce ‘The High Courts (Alteration of Names) Bill, 2016’ in Parliament.
  • The High Courts (Alteration of Names) Bill, 2016 will facilitate the changing of the names of ‘Bombay High Court as Mumbai High Court’ and ‘Madras High Court as Chennai High Court’ respectively.
  • The bill has been introduced under Indian High Court Act, 1861.
  • But at present, there is no central law under which the proposal for change of names of these high courts can be addressed.
  • Both cities were renamed in the 1990s. Since then, there is demand to change the name of High Court.
  • Indian High Court Act of 1861 vested in the Queen of England to issue letters patent to establish high courts of Calcutta, Madras and Bombay.

Reference:
http://pib.nic.in/newsite/mbErel.aspx?relid=146809
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/bombay-madras-calcutta-high-courts-to-be-renamed/article8811881.ece
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/high-courts-of-bombay-madras-to-undergo-change-in-names/