History

About Thiruvananthapuram District Judiciary

Thiruvananthapuram, popularly known as Trivandrum, is the capital city of the State of Kerala, often referred to as “God’s Own Country.” Mahatma Gandhi described Thiruvananthapuram as the “Evergreen City of India” owing to its scenic beauty, pleasant climate, and rich cultural heritage. Situated on the south-west coast of India, the district covers an area of approximately 2,192 square kilometres and is the largest and most populous city in Kerala.

The District Judiciary of Thiruvananthapuram is one of the largest judicial districts in the State, providing judicial services across the district through a well-established network of courts.

• One Principal District & Sessions Court
• Eight Additional District & Sessions Courts
• Six Sub Courts / Assistant Sessions Courts
• Three Motor Accidents Claims Tribunals (MACTs)
• Four Additional MACTs
• Four Family Courts
• One Co-operative Tribunal
• One Tribunal for Local Self Government Institutions
• One Vigilance Court
• One Special Judge Court under the Prevention of Corruption Act
• One Special Court for CBI Cases
• One Special Court under the POCSO Act
• One Chief Judicial Magistrate Court
• One Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Court
• Nineteen Judicial First Class Magistrate Courts
• Twelve Munsiff’s Courts
• One Rent Control Court
• Two Gram Nyayalayas

These courts function from the court centres at Thiruvananthapuram (Vanchiyoor), Neyyattinkara, Nedumangad, Attingal, Varkala, Kattakkada, Vellanad, and Parassala, ensuring effective access to justice throughout the district.

The District Court Complex at Vanchiyoor is an iconic English-Gothic style heritage building constructed during the reign of His Highness Sree Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma. Following Indian independence, this historic building temporarily housed the Bench of the Travancore-Cochin High Court until the establishment of the High Court of Kerala at Ernakulam after the reorganisation of states. Thereafter, it became the principal seat of the District Judiciary of Thiruvananthapuram.

To meet the growing judicial requirements and improve infrastructure for Judicial Officers, advocates, court staff, and litigants, a modern court complex was subsequently constructed within the Vanchiyoor Court Campus. Several courts, including the Family Court, Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal, Special Court (CBI), Court of the Special Judge under the Prevention of Corruption Act, University Appellate Tribunal, Enquiry Commission, and various Magistrate Courts are presently functioning from this modern complex.

In addition to the Vanchiyoor Court Complex, well-equipped court complexes are functioning at Neyyattinkara, Nedumangad, Attingal, Varkala and Kattakkada, catering to the judicial needs of their respective jurisdictions. The District Judiciary is headed by the Principal District & Sessions Judge, Thiruvananthapuram.

History

The modern history of Thiruvananthapuram is closely associated with Maharaja Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma (1729–1758), the founder of the modern Kingdom of Travancore. During his reign, Thiruvananthapuram emerged as the political and administrative capital of Travancore. He renovated the revered Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, fortified the city, and transformed it into a prominent centre of administration, culture, education, and the arts.

In 1791, the Kingdom of Travancore entered into a treaty with the British East India Company, leading to the establishment of a British Residency in Thiruvananthapuram. During the nineteenth century, the city witnessed remarkable progress in public administration, education, healthcare, and infrastructure under successive rulers of Travancore.

The reign of Maharaja Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma (1829–1847) marked a golden era of cultural and educational advancement. English education was introduced, and several institutions, including schools, hospitals, and the observatory, were established.

During the reign of Maharaja Sree Moolam Thirunal (1885–1924), the Legislative Council of Travancore was inaugurated in 1888, becoming the first legislative chamber established in an Indian princely State. The Sree Moolam Popular Assembly, constituted in 1904, further strengthened representative governance.

Under Maharaja Sree Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma (1931–1949), Travancore witnessed significant social and educational reforms. The Temple Entry Proclamation of 1936 and the establishment of the University of Travancore in 1937 marked major milestones in the history of the State.

Today, the District Judiciary, Thiruvananthapuram continues this rich legacy by delivering efficient, transparent and technology-enabled justice through initiatives such as District Court Case Management System (DCMS), e-Filing, e-Office, Digitisation of Case Records, Paperless Courts, Video Conferencing and Hybrid Hearings.