History

Bahraich

The dense forests and fast-flowing rivers are the specialties of district Bahraich. There are many Mythological facts about the great historical value of district Bahraich. It was famous as the Capital of God Brahma, the maker of the universe. It was also known as part of the Gandharva Forest. Even today northeast area of several hundred square Km of the district is covered by forest. It is said that Brahma ji developed this forest-covered area as the place of worship for Rishis & Sadhus. Therefore this place came to be known as ” Brahmaich”
According to some other historians in the Middle Ages, this place was the capital of the “Bhar” dynasty. Therefore it was called as “Bharraich”. Which later came to be known as “Bahraich”.
Famous Chinese visitors Hwaintsang & Feighyaan visited this place. The famous Arab visitor Ibne-ba-tuta visited Bahraich and wrote that Bahraich is a beautiful city situated at the bank of the holy river Saryu.
The history of Bahraich district dates back to the Maurya period. This district is also related to Lord Buddha. However, later it remained under the Mughals and Nawabs also ruled here. Ultimately the British rule took control here. A historic battle also took place here between Hazrat Ghazi Syed Salar Masood Ghazi and Maharaja Suheldev. In such a situation, this district of the state is also called a district with rich history.

History Of Bahraich Judgeship

On February 7, 1856, the kingdom of Awadh was annexed and vested exclusively in the East India Company. Bahraich was made the Head Quarters of a division with Wingfield as Commissioner. The formation and organization of police and tahseel establishments, the institution of various Courts and justice, the arrangement and supervision of various Courts and jails, the investigation of claims to Revenue –free grants, excise, and, above all, the settlement of the land revenue, were some of the points to which East India company had directed their attention in the course of the next 14 months. The Bahraich Judgeship is a very old Judgeship & it was established in the building of Nanpara Estates.

Justice

During the pre-independent period, a Court of Civil & Session Judge, a Court of Civil Judge & two courts of munsifs functioned for the district under the Gonda Judgeship. A subordinate Judge was stationed at Bahraich and there were two munsifs with headquarters at Bahraich and Kaisarganj.

There were six honorary magistrates exercising third-class magisterial powers usually within the limits of their estates, such as the Raja of Payagpur and taluqdar of Bhinga, and the managers of the Kapoorthala and Jamdan estates.

Criminal Sessions were held at regular intervals at Bahraich by the Session Judge of Gonda.

The Bahraich Judgeship was separated from Gonda Judgeship in the year 1953. Later on, some Courts of Civil & session Judges were created in view of the heavy arrears of Session Cases in the district. Thereafter two more courts of Additional Munsifs were created in the year 1975 to cope with the increasing number of Civil and criminal Cases.