Bombay HC inaugurates Kolhapur bench to ease litigant burden

Chief Justice of India B R Gavai inaugurates the Bombay HC's 4th bench in Kolhapur, easing the burden on litigants and lawyers who have to travel to Mumbai for hearings. The Kolhapur bench will have jurisdiction over six districts and will be functional from August 18 with a division bench and two single benches.

The Bombay High Court (HC) has taken a significant step towards improving accessibility for litigants and lawyers in western Maharashtra and Konkan by inaugurating its fourth bench in Kolhapur. Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai led the ceremony on Sunday, attended by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CM Eknath Shinde [1].

The new bench, which will be functional from August 18, aims to reduce the burden on litigants and lawyers who previously had to travel to Mumbai, located approximately 380 km away, for hearings. The Kolhapur bench will have jurisdiction over six districts: Satara, Sangli, Solapur, Kolhapur, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg [1].

The Kolhapur bench comprises a division bench and two single benches. The division bench, consisting of Justices M.S. Karnik and Sharmila U. Deshmukh, will handle Public Interest Litigations, civil writ petitions, first appeals, family court appeals, contempt appeals, and other civil and criminal matters. Justice S.G. Dige will preside over a single bench, focusing on criminal appeals, criminal revision applications, bail applications, and other criminal matters. Justice S.G. Chapalgaonkar will oversee civil writ petitions, civil applications, and other civil matters [1].

The Bombay HC has issued a sitting list for the newly constituted Kolhapur bench, effective from August 18, 2025. The bench will prioritize matters involving senior citizens, marginalized sections, and criminal appeals pending for more than five years. The sitting list also includes provisions for dealing with election petitions and contempt petitions [2].

This expansion of the Bombay High Court's reach is expected to enhance judicial efficiency and accessibility in the region, thereby promoting a more efficient and fair legal system.

References:
[1] https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/cji-gavai-inaugurates-bombay-hcs-4th-bench-in-kolhapur/articleshow/123345149.cms
[2] https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/mumbai/bombay-high-court-issues-sitting-list-for-newly-constituted-kolhapur-circuit-bench-from-august-18/article69934084.ece