Shri Maneesh Sharma presently Advocate has been appointed as Judge of the Rajasthan High Court .
Evolution of Rajasthan and Its High Court
Rajasthan, a region once known as Rajputana, was a cluster of princely states with Ajmer-Merwara as a British-administered territory. Before the 20th century, these states were governed by dynastic rulers wielding complete executive, legislative, and judicial power. However, with India’s independence in 1947, a movement towards integration led to the formation of Rajasthan between March 17, 1948, and January 25, 1950. The Union of Rajasthan was inaugurated on March 30, 1949, in Jaipur by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
At the time of integration, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Bikaner, and Kota were prominent states with British-influenced administrative structures, each possessing its own High Court. A committee was formed to determine the capital and the High Court’s location, recommending Jaipur as the capital and Jodhpur as the judicial seat. Consequently, the Rajasthan High Court Ordinance, 1949, established a single High Court, operational from August 29, 1949, under Chief Justice Kamal Kant Verma and 11 other judges representing various princely states.
Initially, the High Court functioned at Jodhpur, Jaipur, Udaipur, and Bikaner, but by 1950, it ceased operations at Bikaner, Kota, and Udaipur, with only the Jaipur bench continuing. With the enactment of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, Rajasthan absorbed Ajmer and other regions, solidifying Jodhpur as the principal High Court seat. A temporary bench at Jaipur was later abolished in 1958, sparking public discontent.
Responding to widespread demand, the Jaipur Bench was permanently reinstated on December 8, 1976, covering multiple districts in Eastern Rajasthan. Today, the Rajasthan High Court functions with a sanctioned strength of 50 judges. While Jaipur’s new High Court building is operational, Jodhpur’s grand judicial complex is under construction, marking yet another milestone in Rajasthan’s rich legal history.
IndianBureaucracy.com wishes Justice Maneesh Sharma the very best.