The Bombay High Court’s fifth bench has been inaugurated at Kolhapur by CJI Bhushan Gavai, fulfilling a 20-year demand to ease access to justice for litigants across six districts in western Maharashtra.
The Bombay High Court has officially set up its fifth bench in Kolhapur, western Maharashtra. The new bench was inaugurated by the Chief Justice of India (CJI) Bhushan Gavai on Sunday, making it a landmark step towards improving access to justice in the state.
Until now, the Bombay High Court had four benches:
- Mumbai (Principal Seat)
- Nagpur
- Aurangabad
- Goa
With Kolhapur added to the list, people in southern Maharashtra will now have faster and easier access to legal remedies.
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Why Was a Bench Needed in Kolhapur?
For more than 20 years, there had been demands from lawyers and litigants in Satara, Sangli, Solapur, Kolhapur, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg districts to establish a bench in Kolhapur.
Earlier, anyone from these districts had to travel all the way to Mumbai for their cases. This not only meant more expenses but also delayed proceedings.
With the Kolhapur bench now functional, people in these six districts can approach the High Court closer to home, making justice delivery more efficient and accessible.
Key Highlights of the Inauguration
- The official notification declaring Kolhapur as a circuit bench was issued on August 1 by Bombay High Court Chief Justice Alok Aradhe.
- At the inauguration ceremony, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CM Eknath Shinde were present.
- Justice Shivkumar Dige, who was earlier serving at the Mumbai Principal Seat, has now been appointed as the single-judge to preside over the Kolhapur bench.
Inaugural Ceremony and Key Dignitaries
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The inauguration was attended by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, and other dignitaries.
At the event, Justice Shivkumar Dige, previously posted at the Mumbai principal seat, officially took charge as the presiding single-judge at the Kolhapur bench. His courtroom session marked the beginning of a new chapter in Maharashtra’s judicial history.
A Step Towards Accessible Justice
The establishment of the Kolhapur bench not only reflects the judiciary’s commitment to decentralising legal access but also ensures that the justice delivery system becomes more efficient and citizen-friendly. It is expected to significantly benefit thousands of litigants across the six districts, easing their legal journeys.
Also Read: CJI BR Gavai: The Constitution of India Is the Unifying Force of the Nation</
