History

Chikkamagaluru District was called Kadur District till 1947. It is situated roughly in the south-western part of Karnataka State. A large area of this district is ‘malnad’ i.e. a largely forested hilly region of heavy rainfall. The district takes its name from the head quarters town of Chikkamagaluru which literally means younger daughter’s town – Chikka + Magala + Ooru ( in kannada). It is said to have been given as dowry to the younger daughter of Rukmangada, the legendary chief of Sakrepatna. Another part of the town bestowed on the elder daughter is known as Hiremagalur. Chikkamagaluru District is blessed with pleasant nature and environment. On one side, there is the mountain range of western Ghat in which the highest Peak in Karnataka State i.e. Mullayyanagiri and next highest Peak of Kudremukh are there. There are famous pilgrim centers like Baba Budan Giri, Dathathreya Peetha, Sharada Temple of Sringeri, Annapoorneshwari Temple of Horanadu, Jwalamalini Temple at Narasimharajapura, which is also a Jain’s pilgrim Centre, and Sri. Rambhapuri Mutt at Balehonnur in Narasimharajapura Taluk. There is a famous National Park in Kudremukh, which consists of evergreen forest; Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary and Bird’s Sanctuary at Uluve in Sringeri Taluk.

In 1880s there were only two Munsiff Magistrate Courts, one at Narasimharajapura (previously called as Yedehally) and another at Chikmagalur. At that time, Kadur was the District headquarters. These two are the very old courts functioning since more than 125 years. The Munsiff Magistrate Court, Narasimharajapura at that time had the jurisdiction over Sringeri, Koppa, Narasimharajapura, Tarikere and Kadur Revenue Taluks and the Munsiff Magistrate Court, Chikkamagaluru had the jurisdiction over Chikkamagaluru & Mudigere Revenue Taluks. Thereafter, the Munsiff Magistrate Court, Tarikere was established on 01.10.1940 and it had the jurisdiction over Tarikere and Kadur Revenue Taluk. There was no Sessions Court in Chikkamagaluru district earlier to 01.11.1965 and all the Sessions and the cases triable by the District Judge were within the jurisdiction of District & Sessions Court, Shimoga. The then Shimoga Division consisted of Shimoga, Chitradurga and Chikkamagaluru district. The District and Sessions Court, Chikkamagaluru established on 1.11.1965 is at the heart of the city. Litigant Publics approach the Court with their grievances and for its redressal. The Court Complex is located at a distance of 200 feet from the Town Mahila Samaj and in the nearby vicinity of State Bank of Mysore, S.P Office, I.B., Income Tax Office, L.I.C. Office, District Central Library and other government offices.District There are Seven Revenue Taluks in Chikkamagaluru Revenue District, namely Chikmagalur, Mudigere, Kadur, Tarikere, Narasimharajapura, Koppa and Sringeri.