Civil matters at Kolkata are heard, according to the value of the suit and the location of the property, by the City Civil Court, by the Calcutta High Court on its ordinary original civil jurisdiction, or by the district judiciary at Alipore, Barasat or Howrah. Bankshall Court, despite the name being used loosely, is the City Sessions Court and hears criminal matters. A number of subjects have been taken out of the civil courts altogether and lie before tribunals.

The confusion worth clearing up first

“Bankshall Court” is used in ordinary speech in Kolkata as though it meant the courts generally. It does not. The buildings at 2 and 3 Bankshall Street, together with the newer block between them known as Bichar Bhawan, house the City Sessions Court and the metropolitan magistracy — criminal jurisdiction. The City Civil Court was separated from the City Civil and Sessions Court in 2005 and sits elsewhere, at Kiran Shankar Roy Road. A person told to go to Bankshall Court about a property matter has been misdirected.

Courts

Calcutta High Court

Established 1 July 1862; the oldest High Court in India. Jurisdiction over West Bengal and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, with the principal seat at Kolkata and circuit benches at Jalpaiguri and at Port Blair. Hears civil suits on its ordinary original civil jurisdiction where the value exceeds one crore rupees, and concurrently with the City Civil Court between ten lakh and one crore rupees; appeals from the City Civil Court and second appeals from the District Judges; civil revisions; writ petitions; company, admiralty, testamentary and matrimonial matters within its jurisdiction; and appeals from a single judge to a Division Bench.

[VERIFY: address from calcuttahighcourt.gov.in]

City Civil Court, Calcutta

The principal court of original civil jurisdiction within the town of Calcutta. Hears civil suits and proceedings up to ten lakh rupees to the exclusion of the High Court, and between ten lakh and one crore rupees concurrently with it. Separated from the City Civil and Sessions Court in August 2005.

2 and 3 Kiran Shankar Roy Road, Kolkata 700001 [VERIFY: confirm against the eCourts entry for the City Civil Court, Calcutta]

City Sessions Court, Calcutta — Bichar Bhawan (Bankshall Court)

Criminal jurisdiction for the Kolkata sessions division. The complex houses the Chief Judge, City Sessions Court, the Sessions Judge under the narcotics legislation, the Special Court for matters investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation, fast track courts, and the courts of the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrates and the Metropolitan Magistrates. The older buildings were inaugurated in 1915.

2 and 3 Bankshall Street, Kolkata 700001

Presidency Small Causes Court, Calcutta

Small causes jurisdiction for the town of Calcutta — suits of a civil nature of small value within the limits the statute prescribes.

[VERIFY: address from the eCourts portal]

District and Sessions Judge, South 24 Parganas, at Alipore

The district judiciary for South 24 Parganas, which includes much of southern Kolkata. Courts of the District Judge and Additional District Judges, the Civil Judges (Senior Division) and Civil Judges (Junior Division), and the criminal courts of the district. A suit about property in Behala, Thakurpukur, Garia, Sonarpur or Baruipur is instituted here.

[VERIFY: address from the eCourts portal for South 24 Parganas]

District and Sessions Judge, North 24 Parganas, at Barasat

The district judiciary for North 24 Parganas, which includes Salt Lake, Rajarhat and New Town, Dum Dum, Baguiati and Barrackpore. A suit about property in those areas is instituted here or, where there is a court at the subdivision, before that court.

[VERIFY: address from the eCourts portal for North 24 Parganas]

District and Sessions Judge, Howrah

The district judiciary for Howrah, across the river.

[VERIFY: address from the eCourts portal for Howrah]

Family Court, Kolkata

Matrimonial and family matters within the jurisdiction conferred by the Family Courts Act, 1984.

[VERIFY: address from the eCourts portal]

Tribunals and authorities

West Bengal Real Estate Regulatory Authority (WBRERA)

Complaints against promoters and agents in registered projects. rera.wb.gov.in. Appeals to the West Bengal Real Estate Appellate Tribunal.

District and State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions, West Bengal

Consumer complaints according to value.

West Bengal Land Reforms and Tenancy Tribunal

Specified matters under the land reforms and tenancy legislation.

Controller under the West Bengal Thika Tenancy (Acquisition and Regulation) Act, 2001

Thika tenancy matters in Kolkata and Howrah.

Rent Controller, Kolkata

Retains functions under the West Bengal Premises Tenancy Act, 1997, including the receipt of rent deposited where a landlord refuses it. Eviction is now by suit before the Civil Judge.

Debts Recovery Tribunal, Kolkata

Recovery by banks and financial institutions above the prescribed threshold, and applications arising out of enforcement under the securitisation legislation.

Registrar of Assurances, Kolkata, and the offices of the District Sub-Registrars and Additional District Sub-Registrars

Registration of documents. Listed separately at registration offices when that page is published.

Block Land and Land Reforms Offices

Record of rights, mutation and conversion.

Addresses, the constitution of courts and the allocation of subjects among them change. Confirm the position for a particular matter before acting on this list. Nothing on this page is advice on any particular matter.

Speak to the chambers

If your matter touches this subject, send a message on WhatsApp, or telephone the chambers during working hours — both numbers are on the Contact page. The chambers will tell you what papers are relevant before any consultation.

Ground Floor, 121/B Sitaram Ghosh Street, Kolkata 700009 · 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM, Monday to Sunday

Courts in Kolkata