The District Court Sonipat — the apex trial court for the Sonipat Sessions Division in the state of Haryana — is a district court with a historical identity rooted in one of the oldest inhabited regions in the Indian subcontinent. The ancient name of Sonipat was Sonaprastha — a name that historical and popular tradition, accepted as true by General Cunningham, identifies as one of the five Pats mentioned in the Mahabharata as the price of peace demanded by Yudhishthra from Duryodhana. This extraordinary claim of antiquity — tracing the city’s identity to the era of the Mahabharata — makes the Sonipat judicial district one of the few in India whose geographic roots are interwoven with epic tradition. Under the supervision of the Punjab and Haryana High Court at Chandigarh, the Sonipat District Court serves a district that has transformed from a predominantly agricultural area adjoining Delhi into one of Haryana’s most educationally and industrially significant districts.
History
The ancient name of Sonipat was Sonaprastha and its historical source finds origin in the time of the Mahabharata. The present Sonipat was part of two districts before 1912 — it was part of Delhi District up to 1912 and was included in Rohtak District in September 1912. Gohana Tehsil remained a part of Rohtak District until the formation of Sonipat as a separate district on December 22, 1972.
The first Judicial Court started functioning at Sonipat on May 15, 1959. Shri Surjeet Singh Raikhy was posted as the first Sub-Judge First Class at Kot Mohalla, Sonipat. In the beginning, there was only one court. Shri I.P. Vashishth was posted as the first Senior Sub-Judge in this district on March 29, 1973. The Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate was separately established on May 13, 1975 with Shri R.S. Bhatia as the first Chief Judicial Magistrate, Sonipat. Shri V.K. Kaushal joined as the first Additional District and Sessions Judge, Sonipat, on October 18, 1973.
Sonipat District was declared a Sessions Division by the Hon’ble High Court vide Haryana Government Notification No. 3/1/78JJ(4) dated May 19, 1983, with Shri I.M. Malik appointed as the first District and Sessions Judge at Sonipat, joining on June 8, 1983. The Judicial Courts shifted to the present new Judicial Complex-cum-Mini Secretariat in 1977, prior to which they had been functioning in the Old Tehsil building. From an initial strength of about 65 lawyers at the creation of the district, the District Bar Association Sonipat has grown significantly.
Structure and Composition
| Dimension | Detail |
| Ancient name | Sonaprastha — identified in Mahabharata tradition |
| Part of Delhi District until | 1912 |
| Part of Rohtak District until | Separate district formed December 22, 1972 |
| First Judicial Court functioning | May 15, 1959 |
| First Sub-Judge First Class | Shri Surjeet Singh Raikhy — at Kot Mohalla, Sonipat |
| First CJM | Shri R.S. Bhatia — May 13, 1975 |
| First Additional DSJ | Shri V.K. Kaushal — October 18, 1973 |
| Sessions Division declared | May 19, 1983 — Haryana Govt. Notification No. 3/1/78JJ(4) |
| First District and Sessions Judge | Shri I.M. Malik — joined June 8, 1983 |
| Courts shifted to present complex | 1977 — from Old Tehsil building |
| Location | Judicial Complex-cum-Mini Secretariat, Sonipat, Haryana |
| High Court supervision | Punjab and Haryana High Court, Chandigarh |
| Sub-Divisions | Gohana, Ganaur, and Kharkhoda |
| Digital services | e-Filing 3.0, eCourts Mission Mode Project, SMS alerts, video conferencing |
Architecture and the Judicial Complex-cum-Mini Secretariat
The Sonipat District Court functions from the purpose-built Judicial Complex-cum-Mini Secretariat — a combined judicial and administrative campus to which the courts shifted in 1977. This co-location of the judicial complex with the Mini Secretariat reflects an administrative planning approach that places the court within Sonipat’s central governmental and civic infrastructure — providing convenient access for litigants whose matters often involve both judicial proceedings and administrative functions.
The Sonipat Sessions Division encompasses three sub-divisions — Gohana, Ganaur, and Kharkhoda — with judicial officers posted at each sub-divisional headquarters. All Civil Judges also exercise powers of Judicial Magistrates and Rent Controller, reflecting the integrated civil-criminal judicial structure common across Haryana’s district judiciaries. The District and Sessions Judge and Additional District and Sessions Judges exercise appellate authority under the East Punjab Urban Rent Restriction Act and as Motor Accident Claims Tribunals — powers particularly significant in a district adjoining Delhi that has experienced rapid residential and commercial urbanisation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the ancient name of Sonipat?
A: Sonaprastha — identified by General Cunningham as one of the five Pats from the Mahabharata.
Q: When did Sonipat become a separate district?
A: December 22, 1972.
Q: When did the first Judicial Court start functioning at Sonipat?
A: May 15, 1959.
Q: Who was the first Sub-Judge First Class at Sonipat?
A: Shri Surjeet Singh Raikhy — posted at Kot Mohalla, Sonipat.
Q: When was Sonipat declared a Sessions Division?
A: May 19, 1983 — under Haryana Government Notification No. 3/1/78JJ(4).
Q: Who was the first District and Sessions Judge?
A: Shri I.M. Malik — joined June 8, 1983.
Q: When were the courts shifted to the present complex?
A: 1977 — from the Old Tehsil building to the present Judicial Complex-cum-Mini Secretariat.
Q: Which High Court supervises the Sonipat District Court?
A: The Punjab and Haryana High Court, Chandigarh.
