Courts of Kolkata & West Bengal
A guide to the judicial institutions serving the Kolkata community. Understanding where a case is filed is crucial for effective legal remedy.
Calcutta High Court
Location: Esplanade Row West
Established in 1862, it is the oldest High Court in India. It has jurisdiction over West Bengal and the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It hears constitutional matters, writ petitions, civil and criminal appeals, and possesses original jurisdiction in certain matters.
City Civil Court
Location: Kiran Shankar Roy Road (Bankshall)
Hears civil suits arising within the metropolitan area of Kolkata. Its pecuniary jurisdiction extends to civil disputes of varying values. It is the primary court for property disputes, breach of contracts, and injunctions within the city limits.
Alipore Court Complex
Location: Alipore, South 24 Parganas
Serves as the District and Sessions Court for South 24 Parganas. The complex houses criminal courts, civil courts, and importantly, the Family Court which handles divorce, maintenance, and child custody matters for the district.
Sealdah Court
Location: Sealdah
Functions primarily as a criminal court complex housing the courts of the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) and Metropolitan Magistrates handling criminal offenses, bail applications, and trials within its territorial jurisdiction.
NCLT Kolkata Bench
Location: Town Hall area / Rajarhat
The National Company Law Tribunal handles corporate civil disputes arising under the Companies Act and proceedings under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) for companies registered in WB.
Debt Recovery Tribunal (DRT)
Location: Jeevan Sudha Bldg, Park Street area
Established for the expeditious adjudication and recovery of debts due to banks and financial institutions, and matters under the SARFAESI Act.