The Calcutta High Court is the oldest High Court in India. It was established as the High Court of Judicature at Fort William on 1 July 1862 under the High Courts Act, 1861. It has jurisdiction over the state of West Bengal and the Union Territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The High Court building is an exact replica of the Cloth Hall, Ypres, in Belgium.[1] . It is recorded that when the original Cloth Hall burnt down, a blue print of Granville's Calcutta High Court had to be consulted before rebuilding it.