Bankshall Court in Kolkata is one of the city’s oldest criminal courts and is today officially known as the City Sessions Court for the Kolkata Sessions Division. It stands on Bankshall Street, near B.B.D. Bagh, in what was the old administrative and commercial heart of colonial Calcutta.
Origins and name
The court takes its name from Bankshall Street, itself derived from a “Marine House” or dockside depot once known by the Dutch term “Bankshall”, linked to Bengal’s early maritime trade in the 1700s. By the late eighteenth century this area had developed as an important node for shipping, revenue offices and early judicial buildings of the East India Company’s town.
From Small Causes Court to Bankshall Court
In British times, the institution that later came to be associated with Bankshall Court functioned as a Small Causes Court for petty civil matters in the Presidency town of Calcutta. It passed through earlier locations—including the premises of the Imperial Museum (now the Indian Museum) and then Mangoe Lane—before finally shifting to the corner of Bankshall Street and Hare Street in the 1870s.
Early twentieth century development
The present court buildings at 2 and 3, Bankshall Street were completed in the early twentieth century, and formal judicial work in this complex was inaugurated in 1915. Two of these structures are now recognised as heritage buildings due to their colonial-era architecture and long association with the city’s judicial history.
Modern role and structure
Over time, with the establishment and later bifurcation of the Calcutta High Court’s subordinate courts, Bankshall Court evolved into the City Sessions Court handling serious criminal trials for Kolkata. The complex today houses courts of the Chief Judge, City Sessions Court, special courts (including for NDPS and CBI matters), and metropolitan magistrates, with an additional multistorey block known as Bichar Bhawan constructed between the two older heritage wings.
Adv. Shyamal Ghatak
It gives me immense pleasure to extend my heartfelt congratulations to the Bar Association of the City Sessions & Judicial Magistrates' Court on the launch of its official website. This initiative marks a significant milestone in the Association’s continuous journey towards modernization, accessibility, and service to the legal fraternity and the public at large.
I commend the office bearers and members of the Association for their vision and dedication in conceptualizing and bringing this project to fruition. May this endeavour inspire other Bar Associations across the State to embrace similar initiatives that blend tradition with innovation, ensuring that the noble profession of law remains ever responsive to the needs of society.
On behalf of the Bar Council of West Bengal, I extend my best wishes for the continued success of the Association and for this website to become a vibrant platform of knowledge, dialogue, and professional unity.
Shyamal Ghatak
Chairman, Executive Committee
Bar Council of West Bengal
secretary's remark
Adv. Raja Sengupta, Secretary
It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the official website of the Bar Association of City Sessions & Judicial Magistrates' Courts. This platform has been created to serve as a bridge between our members, the legal fraternity, and the wider community. It reflects our Association’s enduring commitment to uphold the dignity of the legal profession, promote access to justice, and foster the rule of law.
As one of the vital institutions supporting the legal ecosystem, our Association brings together advocates, academicians, and jurists dedicated to professional excellence and ethical practice. Through seminars, legal aid initiatives, and continuing education programs, we aim to empower our members and contribute meaningfully to the administration of justice.
This website is not only a source of information but also a medium for engagement — providing updates on key activities, notifications, and resources beneficial to both senior and young members of the Bar. I encourage all members to actively participate in our initiatives and use this platform to share ideas that strengthen our collective mission.
Warm regards
Raja Sengupta
Secretary
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