How Kolkata Courts Are Organized – Complete Court Hierarchy Guide 2026

Court Hierarchy in Kolkata

The judicial system in Kolkata follows the three-tier Indian judiciary structure. At the top is the Supreme Court of India which hears appeals from all High Courts. Below that is the Calcutta High Court which exercises supervisory jurisdiction over all courts in West Bengal. At the base are subordinate courts including the City Civil Court, City Sessions Court, Family Court, Magistrate Courts, and various tribunals.

Each court has defined territorial and pecuniary jurisdiction determining which cases it can hear.

Calcutta High Court

The Calcutta High Court is the highest judicial authority in West Bengal. It has Original Side jurisdiction for cases arising within Kolkata and Appellate Side jurisdiction for appeals from subordinate courts. It also exercises writ jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution.

The High Court has a sanctioned strength of 72 judges and is located at 3 Esplanade Row West, Kolkata.

City Sessions Court (Bankshall)

The City Sessions Court at Bankshall (4 Bankshall Street) handles serious criminal cases within Kolkata. It tries offences punishable with death, life imprisonment, or imprisonment exceeding 7 years. It also hears appeals from Magistrate Courts within Kolkata.

The Sessions Court is presided over by a Sessions Judge and Additional Sessions Judges.

City Civil Court (BBD Bagh)

The City Civil Court at BBD Bagh handles civil suits within Kolkata. It has unlimited pecuniary jurisdiction. It deals with property disputes, contract cases, recovery suits, inheritance matters, and other civil claims valued above Rs. 5 lakhs.

Below the City Civil Court are Civil Judge (Junior Division) courts handling smaller civil claims.

Family Court

The Family Court at BBD Bagh (within the City Civil Court complex) handles all matrimonial matters including divorce, judicial separation, child custody, maintenance, and declaration of marital status. It follows a less formal procedure and encourages mediation and conciliation.

Appeals from the Family Court lie to the Calcutta High Court.

Magistrate Courts

Magistrate Courts in Kolkata are divided into: Chief Judicial Magistrate Court (at Bankshall), Metropolitan Magistrate Courts (at Bankshall, Alipore), Executive Magistrate Courts (for administrative matters). These courts handle petty offences, preliminary hearings, bail matters, and cases committed to Sessions Court.

There are 15+ Metropolitan Magistrate courts operating within the Bankshall complex alone, handling the bulk of criminal cases in Kolkata.

Specialized Courts and Tribunals

• Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) - BBD Bagh: Accident compensation claims
• Rent Control Tribunal - Bankshall: Landlord-tenant disputes
• Industrial Tribunal: Labour disputes
• Debt Recovery Tribunal: Bank recovery cases
• Commercial Court - BBD Bagh: Commercial disputes above Rs. 3 lakhs
• CBI Court - Bankshall: CBI-investigated cases
• PMLA Court: Money laundering cases
• Consumer Commission: Consumer complaints
• Revenue Courts: Land and property tax disputes

Filing a Case in the Right Court

Determining the correct court for your case depends on several factors: territorial jurisdiction (where the cause of action arose or where the defendant resides), pecuniary jurisdiction (value of the suit), subject matter jurisdiction (type of case - civil/criminal/family), and appellate jurisdiction (which court hears appeals).

Filing in the wrong court results in the case being returned for re-filing, causing delays. Always consult a lawyer before filing.

Frequently Asked Questions