Seeds of present courts in Jalandhar were sown by Baron Lawrence. After the First Sikh War (1845-46) Baron Lawrence was made Commissioner of the newly annexed district of Jullundur where he subdued hill chiefs, established courts and police postsand curbed female infanticide and Sati. On the Punjab Board of administration he abolished internal duties, introduced a uniform currency and encouraged road and canal construction.

The Board of Administration set up in 1849 was abolished in 1853. the Punjab was put under Chief Commissioner and under him was appointed Judicial Commissioner. Robert Montgomery was the first Judicial were set up in Punjab soon after annexation.

Lord Baron Lawrence

The Judicial Department was set up in the year 1853 to provide the courts with the written law which they could administer. Prior to 1860 there were four kinds of courts in Punjab province, which were presided over by Deputy Commissioner, Assistant Commissioner, Extra Assistant and Tahsildars of Revenue Offices. Jurisdiction of these courts was as under:-

Sr. No.

Name of Court

Functions

1

2

3

4

In 1860 the Government of India passed an Act for Establishment of Courts in all the provinces for recovering small debts and demands. Accordingly, small Causes Courts were established. Sh. R.S. Mitra was appointed as Judge Small Cause court to try suits not exceeding Rs. 500/- in value in Military Cantonment of Jalandhar.

With the enforcement of Indian Penal Code and Indian Civil Procedure Code in Punjab, Civil and Criminal courts were established in District Jalandhar. In 1875 the nucleus of a separate judiciary was created to relieve the burden of executive officers in Districts and tehsils where litigation was the heaviest. At that time there were six Munsifs (Judicial) for the District Jullundur, three for District Head Quarter, one each for Nakodar, Phillaur and Nawanshahar. In addition to the munsifs the Honorary Magistrates and Judges were also appointed. They were vested with Civil, Criminal and Summary powers to perform the judicial work. Following were the Honorary Magistrates and Judges:-

Name of gentleman exercising Judicial Powers.

Local area of jurisdiction.

Remarks.

1

2

3

4

5

6

2nd class, 25.1.11.

...

2nd class 25.1.11.

07/05/83

...

2nd class. 7.5.83.

}
}

04/06/89

...

2nd class.4.6.89

24.4.80

25.9.89

...

...

2nd class 24.4.89
2nd class 25.9.89.

}
}
}
}

10/02/92

...

2nd class 10.2.92.

Ist Class 1.2.07.

Ist Class 1.2.07

...

2nd Class 2.1.2.10.

...

...

Balwant Singh,Sardar of Moron.

2nd class.24.5.09

...

...

2nd Class. 4.10.11.

...

...

3rd Class. 25.10.10.

...

...