The Maharashtra Government has sanctioned 75 acres of land at Shenda Park, Kolhapur, while also approving 495 permanent staff positions for the Bombay High Court’s circuit bench in Kolhapur. This significant development was announced during the foundation day celebrations of the Kolhapur bench, which marked its first anniversary.
Acting Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, Justice Ravindra V. Ghuge, emphasized the administrative efforts that facilitated the land allocation. He recounted a discussion with then Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at a high-level meeting. “I proposed to the CM that granting a slightly larger portion of land for Kolhapur would resolve future land requests. The Chief Minister responded with remarkable generosity, officially transferring 75 acres to the Bench. Additionally, 495 permanent staff positions have been sanctioned specifically for the Kolhapur High Court Bench,” Justice Ghuge stated.
Foundation Day of Kolhapur Circuit Bench
The Kolhapur bench was established under Section 51 of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, which allows for additional High Court sittings with state and gubernatorial approval. The bench’s formation resulted from decades of advocacy by legal professionals and litigants from six districts in western Maharashtra: Kolhapur, Sangli, Satara, Solapur, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg. Former Bombay High Court Chief Justice Mohit Shah identified Kolhapur as a strategic location to serve these districts, which are significantly distant from Mumbai.
The bench was inaugurated on August 17, 2025, following a notification by the former Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, Justice Alok Aradhe, on August 1.
Assurance of Permanent Status
Former Chief Justice of India, BR Gavai, and other dignitaries, including Advocate General Milind Sathe and Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh, attended the foundation day ceremony. Former CJI Gavai reassured attendees that the circuit bench’s transition into a permanent bench is imminent. “I refuse to label this as merely a circuit bench. It is operationally a full-fledged bench, and its permanent status is inevitable. This is an established fact, and I assure you that no power can prevent Kolhapur from having a permanent High Court Bench,” he asserted.
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Justice Gavai highlighted the bench’s role in making justice accessible to citizens across the six districts. “If a small landholder from Ratnagiri or Solapur must travel to Mumbai, incurring substantial costs, just to contest a land dispute, we must question whether true socio-economic justice is being served. The Kolhapur Bench bridges this gap,” he remarked.
Future Plans and Challenges
Justice Gavai also discussed a proposal to expand the Bombay High Court’s sanctioned judge strength from 94 to 114, which would enhance the judicial capacity of the Kolhapur bench. He addressed concerns raised by advocates about the need for revenue and tribunal matters to be handled locally, rather than requiring travel to Pune or Mumbai. “In this era of decentralization, every taluka deserves accessible justice. A single Divisional Commissioner’s office for such a vast area is inadequate,” he stated, urging Minister Prakash Ambitkar to support the establishment of a divisional commissionerate and administrative tribunals in Kolhapur.
Justice MS Karnik, who was the senior-most judge at the bench’s inception, praised the swift coordination between executive and judicial branches that led to its establishment within a month. He also highlighted the commitment of senior practitioners like advocate KA Kapse, who expressed his willingness to learn and contribute to the bench’s success, ensuring it functions as a true High Court rather than a glorified district court.
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Justice Sharmila Deshmukh, the current senior-most judge at the Kolhapur bench, underscored the bench’s role in actualizing the constitutional ideal of access to justice. “The establishment of this circuit bench breathes life into the principle of ‘Justice for All’. In the past year, nearly 15,000 cases have been filed here, with approximately 13,000 resolved, demonstrating that this vision for justice is becoming reality,” she concluded.
