Home The Constitution Part VI Article 216

Art. 216 Part VI: The States

Constitution of High Courts

Exact text — Constitution of India

Every High Court shall consist of a Chief Justice and such other Judges as the President may from time to time deem it necessary to appoint.

In Plain English

What this Article actually means

This Article establishes each High Court's basic composition — a Chief Justice plus additional judges, with the total number determined by the President based on the Court's actual workload needs, rather than a fixed constitutional number (unlike the Supreme Court's specific 33-judge cap under Article 124).

Why This Matters To You

How it shows up in everyday life

This is why different High Courts have different numbers of judges — larger states with heavier caseloads (like Allahabad High Court, one of India's largest) have significantly more judges than smaller states' High Courts, adjusted based on actual need rather than a fixed formula.

Read alongside this one

Art. 217 — Appointment and Conditions of Office of a High Court Judge

Frequently Asked

Quick answers about Article 216

Is there a maximum number of judges a High Court can have?

No fixed constitutional cap like the Supreme Court's — the President determines the appropriate number for each High Court based on that court's specific caseload and administrative needs.

← PreviousArticle 215: High Courts to Be Courts of Record Next →Article 217: Appointment and Conditions of the Office of a Judge of a High Court

The text above reproduces Article 216 of the Constitution of India as amended to date, for general educational reference. It is public-domain legislative text, but we recommend cross-checking the authoritative version at legislative.gov.in or india.gov.in before relying on it for a legal matter. The explanation, examples and FAQs are general information, not legal advice — consult a qualified advocate for guidance on your specific situation.