The Kohima Bench of the Gauhati High Court was inaugurated as a Circuit Bench on 1st December 1972. The inaugural function was attended by the then Chief Minister of Nagaland Dr. Hokishe Sema, the Hon’ble Mr. Justice M.C. Pathak and the Hon’ble Mr. Justice Sarma, the then Advocate General Mr. S.K. Gosh and a host of other dignitaries along with members of the Bar and the legal fraternity.

In exercise of the power conferred by sub- section (2) of section 31 of the North Eastern Areas (Reorganisation Act, 1971 (81 of 1971), the President of India, after consultation with the Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court and the Governor of Nagaland was pleased to declare a Permanent Bench with the strength of 2 (two) permanent station Judges at Kohima. Thereafter by Notification No. GSR.73(E) dated 7-2-1990, the Kohima Bench of the Gauhati High Court was declared a Permanent Bench. The Permanent Bench known as the Kohima Bench was subsequently inaugurated by Hon’ble Mr. Justice Subyasachi Mukherji, the then Chief Justice of India on the 10th February 1990.

The foundation stone for a new High Court of Nagaland was laid on the 21st May 2007 by Hon’ble Shri Justice K.G. Balakrishnan, the then Chief Justice of India in the presence of Dr. H.R Bhardwaj, the then Hon’ble Union Minister of Law & Justice, Shri Neiphiu Rio, the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Nagaland, Hon’ble Shri Justice H.K. Sema, Judge Supreme Court of India and Hon’ble Shri Justice Jasti Chelameswar, the then Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court at Meriema on the outskirts of Kohima.

 

Nagaland, situated in the extreme North East of India is the beautiful land of the Nagas - an amalgamation of several tribes of Mongoloid descent whose people are simple, honest and truthful. The Nagas had a rudimentary system of delivering justice based on simplicity and truthfulness. This customary law was handed down the generations solely through the word of mouth differing in usage and practice among the various tribes. Though still unwritten, it continues to be practised in the village level for resolving minor disputes.

Its relevance was such that when the Nagaland state was inaugurated, the people fiercely demanded its protection from the Indian system of laws. As such, the Constitution of India has a special provision Article 371(A) which protects the Naga customary laws. However, with the advent of Indian system of governance, it became clear that Naga customary laws would not fully cater to the needs of the people.

Thus the need to fill this gap began with the inauguration of the Circuit Bench of the Gauhati High Court at the capital Kohima on the 1st of December 1972. The Golden Jubilee of establishment of the Kohima Bench was commemorated on 1st of December 2022 upon completion of 50 years.