Karnataka High Court

The Karnataka High Court is the highest judicial authority in the state of Karnataka. Wikipedia gives its establishment as 1884, when it was known as the Mysore High Court. Its principal bench sits in Bengaluru, in the red-painted Attara Kacheri building opposite the Vidhana Soudha in Cubbon Park.

It has permanent benches at Hubballi-Dharwad, operational from 24 August 2013, and at Kalaburagi, operational from 31 August 2013. Circuit benches at both places were inaugurated on 4 and 5 July 2008 before becoming permanent. The court supervises all courts and tribunals in the state except those of the armed forces, and hears appeals from lower courts. Appeals from it go to the Supreme Court of India.

It is a court of record with the power to punish for contempt. Its sanctioned strength is 62 judges, who retire at 62. The Attara Kacheri was built between 1864 and 1868. A 1982 proposal to demolish it led to a public interest litigation, the first ever filed in the court, and the proposal was dropped in 1985 after the Supreme Court directed the state to reconsider.

Sources: Wikipedia, Karnataka High Court, Karnataka judiciary official website, as listed on Wikipedia.