Sheriff of Kolkata


The Sheriff of Kolkata is an apolitical titular position of authority bestowed for one year on a prominent citizen of Kolkata. The Sheriff has an office and staff in Calcutta High Court but does not have executive powers. Mumbai and Kolkata are the only cities in India to maintain the post of the Sheriff. Presently the office of the sheriff is situated in the Calcutta High Court building.

History

The office of Sheriff of Calcutta was established by a Royal Charter issued by King George III of Great Britain on 26 March 1774 which created the Supreme Court at Fort William in Calcutta. The charter stipulated that the sheriff would be appointed by the Governor-General in Council from a list of three residents recommended by the Supreme Court in a similar manner to the system of High Sheriffs in England.
In the early years the sheriff of Calcutta was the executive arm of the judiciary and responsible for the provision of jurors, the safe custody of prisoners and the seizure of goods. From the mid-1800s, the power of the position was gradually reduced until it became today's ceremonial post.
Following Indian independence, The Calcutta Sheriff's Act 1948 was enacted on 15 October 1948. This was to regulate the office of Sheriff under the Dominion of India. The Act stated that the Sheriff would now be appointed by the Governor of West Bengal and that the Government of West Bengal would take on the Sheriff's financial obligations while the office would remain as a civic post.

Notable persons

List of sheriffs: