Sindh High Court

The High Court of Sindh (Urdu: عدالتِ عالیہ سندھ) (Sindhi: سنڌ ھائي ڪورٽ) is the highest judicial institution of the Pakistani province of Sindh. Established in 1906, the Court situated in the provincial capital at Karachi. Apart from being the highest court of appeal for Sindh in civil and criminal matters, the Court was the District Court and the Court of Session in Karachi.

On 21 August 1926, the Sindh Courts Act (Bom. VII of 1926) was passed into law, making provision for the establishment of a chief court for the province of Sindh. On the coming into operation of Part III of the Government of India Act, 1935, on 1 April 1937, Sindh became a separate province and the judges of the Court of Judicial Commissioner of Sindh were appointed by Royal Warrant by the British Government.

At the time of establishment of the High Court of West Pakistan the number of the judges of the Karachi Bench was almost the same, but subsequently it was increased to 15. On the separation of the Sindh & Balochistan's High Court, 12 judges were allocated to the Sindh High Court and 3 judges to the Balochistan High Court. The present approved strength of judges is 28. However, the number of judges appointed is 24.

The construction of existing main building was commenced in 1923, at an estimated cost of Rs. 39,75,248 but it was completed on 22-11-1929, at actual cost of Rs. 30,35,000. This building which was meant for 5 judges with some provision for expansion in 1929 is now accommodating 18 judges. Some judges have to hold court in chambers. It also provides space for the offices of the Attorney-General, Deputy Attorney-General, Federal Shariat Court of Pakistan Registry, Advocate-General, Sindh, Additional Advocate General, Sindh, Assistant Advocate General, Sindh and High Court Bar Library. Before the Supreme Court Registry was shifted from the High Court premises, two court rooms and three chambers were used by Supreme Court judges. When the Supreme Court comes to Karachi in bigger strength some more chambers were provided to the Judges of the Supreme Court.

In 1974, an annex building on the northeast side of the compound of the High Court was constructed at a cost of Rs. 4.4 million. However, it did not substantially ease the crowding situation, because it also provides office space for the Secretary, Ministry of Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Standing Counsel, Official Assignee, Special Banking Court, Registry of the Federal Shariat Court and Sindh Bar Council, in addition to High Court facilities.

The provincial government has allocated a token amount of Rs. One Lac during the current year for construction of Annexe Building of South-East of the present building in order to make the scheme as ongoing scheme. The building was estimated in 1984 to cost a sum of Rs. 13.35 million. The cost now may go up slightly because of inflation. Unless the Federal Government provides funds or the Provincial Government give preference to the construction of this building and provide necessary funds, the building is not going to be completed within a year or two.^[when?]

The High Court of Sindh consists of a Chief Justice and 27 other judges. A judge of the High Court is appointed by the President after consultation with the Chief Justice of Pakistan, the Governor of the Province and the Chief Justice of the High Court. No person can be appointed as a judge of a High Court unless he is a citizen of Pakistan at least forty years of age and has been an advocate of the High Court or has held a judicial office for ten years and has for a period of not less than three years served as or exercised the functions of a district judge in Pakistan. A judge of a High Court holds office until he attains the age of sixty-two years, unless he resigns before then or is removed from office in accordance with the Constitution.

The principal seat of the High Court of Sindh is at Karachi with benches at Hyderabad, Sukkur, Larkana, and Mirpurkhas. The High Court may have more benches at other places as the Governor on the advice of the Cabinet and in consultation with the Chief Justice of the High Court may determine.