Delhi as a district legal entity was recognised by the Proclamation Notification No.911   dated   17.09.1912 issued by Governor General of India in Council. By this Notification,   Delhi came under the   immediate authority and management of the Governor General of   India in Council and Mr. William   Malcolm Hailey, C.I.E., I.C.S. was appointed the first   Chief Commissioner of Delhi. Simultaneously the   Delhi Laws Act, 1912 was enacted for   enforcing the existing laws in Delhi.

  On 22.02.1915 the area falling on the other side of the river Yamuna (now known as Trans   Yamuna) was also included in the newly created province of Delhi.

Two Courts of Sub-Judges were added in 1920. These Courts continue to function, although due to exigencies some temporary measures were adopted to clear back logs etc. In 1948, one more post of Sub-Judge was created to enforce the Rent Control Act. Thereafter six temporary Courts of Sub-Judges were created in 1953. In 1959, the strength of the Sub-Judges went upto 21. At that time there was one District & Sessions Judge and four Additional District & Sessions Judges. Till 1966 the District Courts of Delhi remained under the administrative control of Punjab High Court when Delhi High Court was established.

According to Delhi District Gazetteer (1912), the District Magistrate was responsible for the administration of criminal Justice, being Chief Magistrate and Supervisor of the police, as far as their duties related to crime.  The staff in 1910 consisted of:

  In view of the importance of Delhi, its population and other considerations, Parliament   thought it necessary to establish a new High Court of Delhi. This was achieved by   enacting the Delhi High Court Act, 1966 on 5th September, 1966..

  By virtue of Section 3 (1) of the Delhi High Court Act, the Central Government was   empowered to appoint a date by a notification in the official gazette, establishing a High   Court for the Union Territory of Delhi. The appointed date was 31st October, 1966.

  The High Court of Delhi initially exercised jurisdiction not only over the Union Territory of Delhi, but also Himachal Pradesh. The High Court of Delhi had a Himachal Pradesh Bench at Shimla in a building called Ravenswood. The High Court of Delhi continued to exercise jurisdiction over Himachal Pradesh until the State of Himachal Pradesh Act, 1970 was enforced on 25th January, 1971.

The High Court of Delhi was established with four Judges. They were Chief Justice K.S.Hegde, Justice I.D.Dua, Justice H.R.Khanna and Justice S.K.Kapur. The sanctioned strength of Judges of this High Court increased from time to time. Presently, the sanctioned strength of Judges of the High Court of Delhi is 29 permanent Judges and 19 Additional Judges