In a move steeped in symbolism and history, the iconic neo-Gothic building of the Calcutta High Court — the oldest high court in India — has officially received a new postal address following the renaming of the road on which it stands. The change was effected after the Kolkata Municipal Corporation renamed “Esplanade Row (West)” as “Justice Radhabinod Pal Sarani”.
According to a notification issued by the high court’s registrar general, the court’s new official address is now:
3, Justice Radhabinod Pal Sarani, Kolkata, West Bengal, PIN – 700001
A 150-Year-Old Landmark
The Calcutta High Court building, with its striking neo-Gothic architecture, was constructed in 1872 — a decade after the court itself was established. The design of the edifice was the work of Walter Granville, a British architect employed by the colonial government, and was inspired by the 13th-century Cloth Hall in Ypres, Belgium.
The building is not only a judicial seat of immense national significance but also a heritage structure, having stood as a sentinel through colonial rule, independence, and the evolution of Indian democracy.
Tribute to Justice Radhabinod Pal
The renaming of the road pays homage to Justice Radhabinod Pal (1886–1967), an eminent Indian jurist known globally for his principled and bold dissent at the Tokyo War Crimes Tribunal (International Military Tribunal for the Far East) held after World War II. He was the only judge among 11 from Allied nations to issue a dissenting judgment that acquitted all 25 Japanese defendants on trial for war crimes, arguing that the tribunal itself was based on retrospective law.
Justice Pal’s legacy, particularly in East Asia, has been a subject of enduring respect. In Japan, he is commemorated as a symbol of judicial independence and fairness. This renaming marks a formal institutional recognition of his stature and contributions to international law and Indian judicial history.
Historical Continuity with a Contemporary Touch
While the change in address does not alter the stature or function of the Calcutta High Court, it carries a strong symbolic resonance — weaving together threads of India’s colonial architectural past with the values of judicial courage and independence embodied by Justice Radhabinod Pal.
