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Supreme Court of Judicature at Fort William
| Supreme Court of Judicature at Fort William | |
|---|---|
 Supreme Court of Judicature at Fort William, c. 1786 | |
| Established | October 22, 1774 |
| Dissolved | 1862 |
| Jurisdiction | India |
| Location | Calcutta, Bengal, British India |
| Authorised by | Regulating Act of 1773 |
| Appeals to | Judicial Committee of the Privy Council |
| Judge term length | Life tenure |
| Number of positions | 4 by statute |
The Supreme Court of Judicature at Fort William in Calcutta, was founded in 1774 by the Regulating Act 1773. It replaced the Mayor's Court of Calcutta and was British India's highest court from 1774 until 1862, when the High Court of Calcutta was established by the Indian High Courts Act 1861.
From 1774 to the arrival of Parliament's Bengal Judicature Act 1781 in June 1782, the Court claimed jurisdiction over any person residing in Bengal, Bihar or Orissa. These first years were known for their conflict with the Supreme Council of Bengal over the Court's jurisdiction. The conflict came to an end with Parliament's passing of the Bengal Judicature Act 1781 which restricted the Supreme Court's jurisdiction to either those who lived in Calcutta, or to any British subject in Bengal, Bihar and Orissa, thereby removing the court's jurisdiction over any person residing in Bengal, Bihar and Orissa.
The courthouse itself was a two storied building with Ionic columns and an urn-topped balustrade and stood by the side of the Writers’ Buildings. The building also served as the Town Hall of Calcutta at one time. It was demolished in 1792 and replaced by the present building in 1832.
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