Composition and Jurisdiction of District Courts In India : administration of justice at district level is done through law courts which are presided over by a judge.These courts are under administrative and judicial control of the High Court of the State to which the district concerned belongs.

Composition of District courts

Highest court in each district is that of the District and Sessions Judge.This is the principal court of civil Jurisdiction.This is also a court of Sessions.Sessions triable cases are tried by the Sessions Court. It has the power to award any sentence including capital punishment.

There are many other courts subordinate to the court of District and Sessions Judge. There is three tier system of courts. On civil side, at the lowest level is the court of Civil Judge (Junior Division). On criminal side the lowest court is that of the Judicial Magistrate. Civil Judge (Junior Division) decides civil cases of small pecuniary stake. Judicial Magistrates decide criminal cases which are punishable with imprisonment upto five years.

At the middle of the hierarchy there is the Court of Civil Judge (Senion Division) on civil side and the Court of the Chief JUdicial Magistrate on the Criminal side. Civil Judge (senion division) can dicide civil cases of any valuation. There are many additional courts of Additional Civil Judge (senion division).The Jurisdiction of these addition courts is same as that of the principal court of Civil Judge(Senior Division). The Chief Judicial Magistrate can try cases which are punishable with imprisionment for a term upto 7years.Usually there are many additional courts of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrates. At the top level there may be one or more courts of additional district and sessions judge with the same judicial power as that of th District and Sessions judge.

Judicial independence of each court is the characteristic feature of district judiciary.In each district there is a strong bar which ensures that courts decide cases according to law and without fear or favour.The greatest problem of district courts is that of huge pendency of cases leading to undue delay in decision of cases.