Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh will be the Chief Guest at the Closing Ceremony of the Sesquicentennial Celebration of the Bombay High Court, on Saturday, marking 150 years of judicial service.  The main function will be held at the National Centre for Performing Arts, NCPA at Nariman Point, which will be attended among others by the Chief Justice of India, Justice S H Kapadia, Governor of Maharashtra, Mr. K Sankaranarayanan,  Maharashtra Chief Minister, Mr. Prithviraj Chavan, Union Minister for Law & Justice, Mr. Salman Khurshid, Attorney General of India, Mr. G E Vahanavati, Governor of Goa Mr. B V Wanchoo and the Goa Chief Minister Mr. Manohar Parikkar.

It was on August 14, 1862, the Bombay High Court was established under the Indian High Courts Act, 1861, enacted by the British Parliament.  It was established under the Letter Patent of the Queen of England.  The functioning of the High Court commenced with 7 Judges, with Sir Mathew Richard Sausse as the first Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court from 1862 to 1866.  Justice M C Chagla was the first Indian Chief Justice following independence in 1947. 

The Principal Seat of the Bombay High Court is in Mumbai . There are High Court Benches in Nagpur and Aurangabad and the High Court has another seat in Goa. The current sanctioned strength of the Bombay High Court is 75.

The Sesquicentennial Celebration closing ceremony will be telecast live on Doordarshan on its National Channel and DD Sahyadri, Mumbai.

Prime Minister to deliver Golden Jubilee Convocation address at IIT-Bombay

In the afternoon, the Prime Minister will grace the Golden Jubilee Convocation of the Indian Institute of Technology, IIT-Bombay at Powai.  He will also deliver the Golden Jubilee Convocation address in the presence of Governor of Maharashtra, Mr. K Sankaranarayanan,  Maharashtra Chief Minister, Mr. Prithviraj Chavan, Union Minister for HRD, Mr. Kapil Sibal among others.

On the occasion of the Golden Jubilee Convocation, the Degree of Doctor of Science, Honoris Causa will be conferred upon the noted industrialist and philanthropist, Azim Premji, Chairman of Wipro Ltd. The Prime Minister will also award medals to the meritorious students of IIT and give away Ph.D degrees.

Mumbai Police have made elaborate traffic arrangements in Powai, in view of Prime Minister’s visit. The Prime Minister’s Convocation Address will be telecast live on DD News and other channels.

PIB Mumbai/MD/SB