Patna, April 17 (IANS): President Pranab Mukherjee arrived here on Friday to attend the Patna High Court centenary celebration on Saturday as the chief guest.

"Mukherjee arrived at Patna Airport by a special Indian Air Force aircraft," Patna senior superintendent of police Jitendra Rana said.

He was received at the airport by Governor K.N. Tripathi and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

According to Rana, Indian Army and CISF personnel besides nearly 2,000 policemen have been deployed here for security during the president's stay.

The historic building of the Patna High Court has been decorated for the celebration.

The foundation stone of the existing high court building was laid on December 1, 1913 by the then Viceroy Lord Charles Hardine.

After the building was formally opened by Lord Harding on February 3, 1916 when the court started its function with a chief justice and six judges.

India's first president, Rajendra Prasad, and the first president of the constituent assembly, Sachchidanand Sinha, had practised in the court.