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What role does the Madras High Court play in Tamil Nadu’s judicial system?

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Mamallapuram: Shore Temple — Tamil Nadu Shore Temple, Mamallapuram, near Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.

The Madras High Court, located in Chennai, serves as the head of the judicial system in Tamil Nadu. Its primary roles include:

Jurisdiction: It holds original jurisdiction for the city of Chennai and appellate jurisdiction for the entire state of Tamil Nadu.1
Extraordinary Cases: The court is empowered to hear original cases of an extraordinary nature originating from other parts of the state.1
Structure: To facilitate its operations, a bench of the High Court is also maintained in Madurai.1

The High Court oversees a broader judicial hierarchy that includes various lower courts, such as district and sessions courts, magistrates’ courts, and munsifs’ (subordinate judicial officers’) courts.1