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    History of City Civil Court

    The City Civil Court, Bengaluru was established on 17.11.1980. It was inaugurated by Hon’ble Mr. Justice Y. V. Chandrachud, the Chief Justice of India at that time, in the presence of Hon’ble Mr. Justice D. M. Chandrashekar, the Chief Justice of Karnataka, Hon’ble Mr. Justice M. N. Venkatachalaiah and Hon’ble Chief Minister of Karnataka Sri R. Gundurao.

    Earlier, Courts in Bengaluru City were like Courts in any other District of Karnataka, consisting of Munsiff Courts, Civil Judge’s Courts and District Courts. Since Bengaluru City was growing enormously and litigation and the filing of the cases was also growing in Geometric progression, creation of Addl. Courts to the existing Courts was not serving any purpose. In the three-tire hierarchy of Courts preferring of Appeals to various Appellate Courts was also more. Considering the fact that if the Judicial Officers of higher rank deal with cases of original jurisdiction, Judgments delivered by them may be of higher quality and the litigants may get satisfaction at the first instance itself and the number of appeals to be preferred may be less, the Hon’ble High Court considered to establish City Civil Courts at Bengaluru on the lines of City Civil Courts then existing at Bombay and Ahmadabad. Judicial Officers were deputed to study the existing system of City Civil Courts functioning at various cities. After analyzing merits and demerits of those systems, the Hon’ble High Court recommended to the Government for establishment of Bengaluru City Civil Court.

    The Government of Karnataka enacted Bengaluru City Civil Court Act, 1979 and the same was published in the Karnataka Gazette Extraordinary on the seventeenth day of April, 1980. As per the Notification of the Government bearing No. LAW 263 LCE 80 dated 05.11.1980, the City Civil Court was established on 17.11.1980. Sri P. A. Kulkarni was appointed as the first Prl. City Civil and Sessions Judge and later Sri P. A. Kulkarni was elevated as Judge of the Karnataka High Court.

    On the date of establishment of City Civil Court, Bengaluru , the pendency of all categories of cases was 31,772. One Prl. City Civil and Sessions Judge, who is of the rank of Senior District and Sessions Judge and 18 Addl. City Civil and Sessions Judges who are of the rank of District and Sessions Judges, were appointed as on 17.11.1980. The total staff strength at that time was 391.

    Due to increase in pendency of cases as well as institution of cases, Addl. City Civil and Sessions Courts have been created from time to time and there is some increase in the staff strength also. As on today, total 95 City Civil and Sessions Courts (including the Court of Prl. City Civil and Sessions Judge) are functioning.

    History of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Courts

    On 07.04.1970 Honorable Justice Sri. M. Sadashivaiah, the then Chief Justice of Mysore High Court and the then Law Minister of the Mysore Government laid the foundation stone for the construction of main building of the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court at Nrupatunga Road in Bangalore City. On 09.03.1977 Hon’ble Justice Sri. K. Bhimaiah and Hon’ble Justice Sri. C. Honnaiah, the then Hon’ble Judges of High Court of Karnataka inaugurated the main building of the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court, Nrupatunga Road, Bengaluru.

    The foundation stone laying ceremony of the Annexe building on the northern side of the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court Complex was held on 06.10.2005 in the august presence of Hon’ble Justice Sri. K. Ramanna and Hon’ble Justice S. R. Nayak, the then Judges of Karnataka High Court. On 29.10.2007 the then Hon’ble Chief Justice Sri. Cyriac Joseph, Karnataka High Court inaugurated the Annexe Building and Hon’ble Justice Sri. Ravi B. Nayak and Hon’ble Justice Sri. Subhash B. Adi, the then Hon’ble Judges of the Karnataka High Court graced the occasion.

    Inauguration ceremony of the 1st Phase of the New Annexe Building of CMM Court Complex and foundation stone laying ceremony for 2nd phase of construction was held on 09.09.2019 in the dignified presence of his Lordships Sri. Mohan M. Shantanagoudar, Sri. S. Abdul Nazir and Sri. A.S. Bopanna Hon’ble Judges of the Supreme Court of India. Hon’ble Chief Justice Sri Abhay Srinivas Oka and Hon’ble Justice Sri Aravind Kumar, Judge of the High Court of Karnataka graced the occasion.

    Presently in the main building – A total of 17 courts are now functioning including C.M.M. Court, 1st to 9th ACMM Courts and 24th, 30th, 31st ACMM Courts and Special Court for Economic Offences Court, C.J.M. Court, Bengaluru Rural District and its two additional courts i.e., 1st and 2nd ACJM Courts. The Office of the Deputy Registrar (Civil Judge) is also housed in the main building.

    Presently in the annex building – A total of 20 courts i.e., MMTC 2 to 6, 12th, 13th, 15th, 16th, 18th, 19th, 20th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 25th, 26th, 27th, 28th and 32nd ACMM Courts are functioning.

    Presently in the New Annexe building – A total of 09 courts i.e., 36th to 41st, 45th and 46th ACMM Courts and Virtual Court are functioning. In all 46 courts are functioning in the C.M.M. Court Complex, Nrupatunga Road, Bengaluru.

    Apart from the above courts 10, 11, 14, 29, 33, 34 ACMM Courts and MMTC-I are housed in the Mayohall Court Complex, Bengaluru. The 17th and 42nd ACMM Courts are housed at City Civil Court Complex, Bengaluru. The 35th ACMM Court is housed at the KSR Railway Station, Bengaluru. The Special JMFC (Sales Tax) Court, Bengaluru is functioning in Gandhinagara, Bengaluru.

    History of Commercial Courts

    Initially Two dedicated Commercial Courts (ie., CCH-83 and CCH-84) are started functioning in City Civil Court Complex from 16/01/2019 vide government Notification LAW 35 LCE 2018 dated: 31/07/2018.
    On 28/12/2020 Six additional dedicated Commercial Courts (ie., CCH-85, CCH-86, CCH-87, CCH-88, CCH-89 and CCH-90) are started functioning in City Civil Court Complex vide government Notification LAW 73 LCE 2019 dated: 02/11/2020.
    The Commercial Court Complex, BSNL Telephone House, RajBhavan Road is Inaguarted on 07/02/2021 in the august presence of Hon’ble Mr. Justice A.J. Bopanna, Judge Supreme Court of India, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Abdul Nazir Supreme Court of India, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Abhay Oka, Chief Justice of Karnataka and Hon’ble Mrs. Justice Nagarathna, Judge High Court of Karnataka and Administrative Judge, City Civil Court, Bengaluru.
    Vide City Civil Court Notification F.No ADM-II.5/2020 dated: 12/02/2021 all Eight Commercial Courts are shifted from City Civil Court Complex to Commercial Court Complex and started functioning in the 2nd and 3rd floor of the BSNL Telephone House, Rajbhavan Road.

    History of Mayo hall Courts

    Mayo Hall was built to honor the memory of Lord Mayo, the 4th Viceroy of India. Lord Mayo (christened Richard South well Bourke) was appointed as the Viceroy and Governor-General of India. As a tribute to this administrator, a commemorative building was erected on the South Parade on a flat ground with trees, flowering bushes and a low wall on the south side. Terraced lawns surrounded the two-story building. It’s cost around Rs.45,000, a sum raised largely through public donations.

    Mayo Hall was inaugurated by the British Resident on 6 June 1883. The Bangalore District Gazetteer noted that “The building in elevation is remarkable for its composition of architrave and pedimented windows, varied with key-storied arches, beautifully executed consoles, balustrades ledges and typical Greek cornice, Tuscan columns and wooden floors.” This two-story structure is known for its ornate Roman elements and influences are apparent in the building. Mayo Hall stands shorn of its greenery and breathing space.

    The Mayo Hall Unit heritage building houses a branch of City Civil Court with eight Addl. City Civil & Sessions Judge Courts (i.e., CCH-20, CCH-21, CCH-22, CCH-29, CCH-58, CCH-73, CCH-74 and CCH-75), six Magistrate Courts (i.e., 10th ACMM, 11th ACMM, 14th ACMM, 29th ACMM, 33rd ACMM and 34th ACMM) along with three Small Causes Courts (i.e., 15th Addl. SCJ, 5th SCJ, 17th SCJ) and a Traffic Court (MMTC-1) as of year 2022.

    History of Family/Labour/Industrial Tribunal Courts

    In 1984, the Family Courts Act was passed and it came into force on September 14, 1984. The objective was to take family and marital disputes away from the overcrowded intimidating and congested environment of traditional courts of law and bring them to congenial and sympathetic surroundings. The aim was ‘conciliation’ between the estranged family members and not ‘confrontation’.

    Initially the Family Courts are established and starts functioning in City Civil Court Complex vide Notification No.LAW167 LCE 83, Bangalore dated 21st May 1987. During the year 2007 the Family Courts are shifted to Nyayadegula Building, H. Siddaih Road, Shanthi Nagar, Bengaluru-560027.

    Family Courts deals with cases like Divorce, Maintenance and Custody. At Present Seven Family Courts of District Judge cadre are functioning in 3rd floor of Nyayadegula Building, the Children Visitation room and Play area is provided in fourth floor of same building.
    Industrial Tribunal Courts deals with cases related to schedule 3 of 1947, at present Two Industrial Tribunal Courts of District Judge cadre are functioning in Nyayadegula building.
    Labour Courts are deals with cases related to schedule 2 of 1947, at present Four Labour Courts of District Judge cadre are functioning in Nyayadegula building.

    History of Court of Small Causes

    As per Notification No.HD 63 CAD 64 Bangalore Dated: 24.06.1964, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (3) of Section 1 of the Mysore Small Causes Courts Act, 1964 (Mysore Act No.11 of 1964), the Government of Mysore appointed on the first of July 1964 as the date on which the said Act shall come into force and the same was published in the Karnataka Gazette. As per the Notification of the Government bearing No.LAW 263 LCE 80 dated: 05.11.1980, the Small Causes Court was established on 17.11.1980 in the establishment of City Civil Court. Further, the establishment of Small Causes Court separated from City Civil Court on ——-.

    On the date of establishment of Small Causes Court, Bengaluru Sri K.N. Kenchanna was appointed as Chief Judge and commenced the work on 17.11.1980. At the same time 17 Additional Judges who were rank of Civil Judges were appointed.

    Due to increase in pendency of cases as well as institution of cases, additional courts were created consecutively over a period of time. As of today there is one Chief Judge Court, Twenty five Senior Civil Judge Courts (23 in City Civil Court and 3 in Mayo Hall) and one Registrar (Junior Division).