The High Court of Kerala at Ernakulam and the Travancore-Cochin court that preceded it

Background

This backgrounder is tied to the Court Fees Amendment Bill referred to the Subject Committee on 12 October 2026, which the Chief Minister said followed a direction of the High Court. Before 1949, Travancore had a High Court at Thiruvananthapuram, Cochin had one at Ernakulam, and Malabar District came under the Madras High Court. The High Court of Travancore-Cochin was inaugurated on 07-07-1949 at Ernakulam after the two States were integrated on 01-07-1949. The High Court of Kerala was established on 01-11-1956 with its seat at Ernakulam and inaugurated on 05-11-1956. Its jurisdiction covers the State of Kerala and the Union Territory of Lakshadweep, and its sanctioned strength is 35 Permanent Judges, including the Chief Justice, and 12 Additional Judges. Justice Anna Chandy of this court was the first woman High Court Judge in India.