Letters Patent created the High Court of Judicature at Patna for the province of Bihar and Orissa

Background

A Proclamation made by the Governor-General of India on the 22nd March, 1912 promoted the territories of Bihar and Orissa, until then included within the limits of the Presidency of Fort William in Bengal, to the status of a separate province.
By Letters Patent, dated the 9th February, 1916 the Patna High Court was ushered into existence, with circuit sittings at Cuttack.
From the 26th February, 1916, the date on which that Letters Patent was published in the Gazette of India, the High Court of Judicature at Fort William in Bengal ceased to exercise civil, criminal, admiralty, matrimonial, testamentary and intestate jurisdiction in all matters in which jurisdiction was given to the High Court of Judicature at Patna.
The High Court commenced work from the 1st March, 1916.
Though a separate province for Orissa was created in 1937, this High Court exercised jurisdiction over the territories of that province till 26th July, 1948, when a separate High Court was constituted for Orissa.
On 15th November, 2000, on the bifurcation of the erstwhile State of Bihar, a new State of Jharkhand came into existence and 13 Judgeships remained with the newly created State of Jharkhand.
Under Article 226 of the Constitution the High Court issues writs, directions or orders, and under Article 235 the control over district courts and courts subordinate to them, including their personnel, is vested in the Court.