ABSTRACT OF LETTERS PATENT FOR THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT FORT

WILLIAM IN BENGAL
Dated the 14th May 1862
Criminal Jurisdiction
21. Gives the High Court ordinary original criminal jurisdiction within the limits of its ordinary
original civil jurisdiction, and such jurisdiction as the Supreme Court has over persons beyond
such limits.
22. Empowers the High Court in its Ordinary Original Criminal Jurisdiction, to try persons
brought before it in due course.
23. Gives the High Court extraordinary original criminal jurisdiction over persons residing in the
jurisdiction of any Court subject to the superintendence of the Sudder Nizamut Adawlut, with
power to try any such persons on charges preferred by the Advocate General, or any
Magistrate, or other officer specially empowered in that behalf.
24. Allows the High Court, in its Original Criminal Jurisdiction, reserve any points of law; but,
with that exception, allows no appeal to the High Court.
25. Empowers the High Court to review a case on any point of law reserved, or on the Advocate
General certifying that there are errors as to a point or points of law or that a point or points of
law should be further considered.
26. Ordains, that the High Court shall be a Court of Appeal from the Criminal Courts in the
provinces from which there is a right of appeal to the Court of Sudder Nizamut Adawlut.

Reserves to the Indian Legislature power to make laws relating to criminal procedure.
27. Ordains, that the High Court shall be a Court of Reference and Revision from the Criminal
Courts subject to its appellate jurisdiction, with the like power as is now exercised by the Court
of Sudder Nizamut Adawlut.
Reserves to the Indian Legislature power to make laws relating to criminal procedure.
28. Empowers the High Court to direct the transfer of any criminal case or appeal from one court
to another.
Criminal Law
29. Ordains, that offenders shall be punished under the Indian Penal Code.
Reserves to the Indian Legislature the power to alter the Indian Penal Code.
30. Ordains, that the GovernorGeneral in Council may, by commission, authorise any of the
Judges of the High Court to sit in any place within the jurisdiction of any Court now subject to
the superintendence of the Sudder Dewany Adawlut or Sudder Nizamut Adawlut.
Criminal Procedure
38. Ordains, that the proceedings in criminal cases brought before the High Court in its Ordinary
Original Civil Jurisdiction and in other cases over which the Supreme Court now has
jurisdiction, shall be regulated by the procedure now in use in the Supreme Court; and in other
cases by Act XXV of 1861.
Reserves to the Indian Legislature power to make laws relating to criminal procedure.