The High Court's principal seat is in Lahore, but there are benches in three other cities of the province: Rawalpindi, Multan and Bahawalpur.
[3] In 1849, the East India Company defeated the Sikh Empire and assumed control of administration within the Punjab.
[4] The Board of Administration consisted of Sir Henry Lawrence, John Lawrence and Charles Grenville Mansel[5] In 1858 the Punjab, along with the rest of British India, came under the direct rule of the British crown and decisions with regard to administration and justice were now made under the authority of the monarch, Queen Victoria.
[5] Additional judges were appointed, and greater finality was granted to the decisions of the lower appellate courts.
In each case the number so stated was exclusive of the Chief Justice but included all additional judges.
[9] On 1 January 1981, it was ordered that the Lahore High Court would create benches at Bahawalpur, Multan and Rawalpindi.
[citation needed] The first Chief Justice at Lahore was Sir Henry Meredyth Plowden in 1880.