President inaugurates Patna HC centenary celebrations

President Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday inaugurated the year-long celebrations of the Patna High Court centenary here, officials said.

"Mukherjee has formally inaugurated the year-long centenary celebrations of the Patna High Court in the court premises," a senior official said.

Mukherjee was the chief guest at the function.

Bihar Governor K.N. Tripathi was in the chair and Supreme Court Chief Justice H.L. Dattu was guest of the honour at the function.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Law Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad also attended the function.

The historic building of the Patna High Court has been decorated for the celebration.

The foundation stone of the existing high court building was laid on December 1, 1913, by the then Viceroy of India, Lord Charles Hardine.

After the building was formally opened by Lord Hardine on February 3, 1916, the court started functioning with a chief justice and six judges.

India's first president Rajendra Prasad and the first president of the constituent assembly, Sachchidanand Sinha, also had practised at the court.