<P> In the Kingdom of Cochin, Desavazhis and Naduvazhis were empowered to settle the disputes following the prevailing customary law . More serious matters used to be attended by the monarch himself . In 1812, for the first time in its history, graded law courts were established under the Diwanship of Colonel Munro, in the Kingdom of Cochin . The first Subordinate Courts (Sub Courts) were established by Colonel Munro at Trichur (Thrissur) and Tripunithura . Until 1835, Huzur Court was the final appellate Court . Huzur Court had a bench strength of three judges . Later the Huzur Court was reconstituted as Rajah's Court of Appeal and Subordinate Courts were reconstituted as Zilla Courts . The Zilla Courts were empowered with unlimited jurisdiction, but subject to the confirmation from the Rajah's Court of Appeal . The Rajah's Court of Appeal was reconstituted as the Chief Court of Cochin in 1900 . The Chief Court of Cochin had three permanent judges one of whom acted as the Chief Judge . Mr. S. Locke was appointed as the first Chief Judge . Later the Chief Court of Cochin was reconstituted as the High Court, during the Diwanship of Sri . Shanmukham Chettiyar . </P> <P> After India gained her independence on 15 August 1947, the Kingdoms of Travancore and Cochin were integrated to form the Travancore - Cochin State or Thiru - Kochi on 1 July 1949 . Later, the High Court of Travancore - Cochin was established at Ernakulam on 7 July 1949 under the Travancore - Cochin High Court Act (1949). Mr. Puthupally Krishna Pillai was the last Chief Justice of High Court of Travancore - Cochin . </P> <P> On 1 November 1956, the States Reorganisation Act, 1956 was passed thereby integrating the State of Travancore - Cochin with Malabar district and Kasaragod to form the present State of Kerala . The High Court of Kerala, as it is today was established on 1 November 1956 as the High Court designated for the State of Kerala . The Kerala High Court Act, 1958 defined the jurisdiction and various functions, and powers of the High Court of Kerala . Initially, many cases from both the Travancore - Cochin High Court and the High Court of Madras were transferred to the High Court of Kerala for adjudication . Justice K.T. Koshi was appointed as the first Chief Justice of High Court of Kerala . </P> <P> The current sitting judges of the court are as follows: </P>

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