History

The Code of Criminal Procedure was extended to the Union Territory of Goa, Daman & Diu, w.e.f. 01.11.1963, from which date, one Sessions Court for this whole Territory was created with its Headquarters at Panaji in North Goa. Subsequently, the Code of Civil Procedure and allied Civil Laws were extended to this territory w.e.f. 15.06.1966 and consequently this Court came to be designated as the District & Sessions Court at Panaji. However, thereafter on 04.02.1981, the second District & Sessions Court was created with the Headquarters at Margao in South Goa, and as a consequence of which, the territorial jurisdiction of the District and Sessions Court at Panaji was altered by excluding the local areas comprising of the Talukas of Ponda, Salcete, Quepem and Mormugao, which were included in the newly created District & Sessions Court, South Goa, Margao, vide the Government Notification Nos.6-1-80/LD/Est. dated 4.02.81 and 12.03.81.

After the creation of the two District & Sessions Courts, the subordinate Civil and Criminal Courts at Panaji, Mapusa, Bicholim, Daman & Diu came within the jurisdiction of the District & Sessions Court, North Goa, Panaji; while the Subordinate Civil & Criminal Courts at Margao(Salcete), Ponda, Quepem and Mormugao (Vasco) came under the jurisdiction of the District & Sessions Court, South Goa, Margao. Subsequently, the Civil and Criminal Courts stationed at Ponda was included in the North Goa District in the year 1988. In the meantime, two more new Courts of Civil Judges, Junior Division & J.M.F.Cs i.e. one each at Pernem and Valpoi (Sattari) were created by the Government. Further, on the establishment of the new District Court for the union Territories of Daman and Diu, the Civil and Criminal Courts stationed at Daman and Diu, which were under the control of the District & Sessions Court, Panaji were delinked from this Court in the year 1991. There is one Court of the Principal District & Sessions Judge, three Courts of the District Judges i.e District Judge-1 and Additional Sessions Judge, District Judge-2 and Additional Sessions Judge, District Judge-3 and Additional Sessions Judge, two Courts of Ad-hoc District Judges i.e. Ad-hoc District Judge-1 & Asst. Sessions Judge (Fast Track Court), Ad-hoc District Judge-2 and Asst. Sessions Judge(Fast Track Court), one Court of the Senior Civil Judge and C.J.M., Additional Senior Civil Judge and J.M.F.C. and two Courts of Civil Judges, Junior Division and J.M.F.C. at the headquarters at Panaji. Geographical Location: The District and Sessions Court, North Goa, Panaji is situated on the bank of the river Mandovi, near the old Secretariat of the Government of Goa and in the heart of the Capital City of Panaji the State of Goa.

At present, in North Goa District there is 1 Principal District & Sessions Judge and 30 other Judges. The office hours of District & Subordinate Courts are from 9.30 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. and 2.00 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. with a lunch break of one hour between 1.00 p.m. to 2.00 p.m. Court hours: 10.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. and 2.00 p.m. to 5.00 p.m.