An Independent, Colonial Judiciary: A History of the Bombay High Court during the British Raj, 1862-1947

In 2012, the Bombay High Court celebrated the 150th year of its existence. It functioned as a court of original and appellate jurisdiction during the British Raj for over 80 years, occupying the topmost rung of the judicial hierarchy in the all-important Bombay Presidency. Yet, remarkably little is known of how the court functioned during the colonial era.

By examining the lives of the 83 judgesâBritons and Indiansâwho served on the Bombay High Court during the colonial era, and by exploring the courtâs colonial past, this book attempts to understand why British colonial institutions like the Bombay High Court flourished even after India became independent. In the process, this book unravels the complex changes that took place in Indian society, the legal profession, the law, and legal culture during the colonial era.