Bombay HC Adds 4th Bench in Kolhapur, Sittings Begin August 18

Fast Summary

• new High Court Bench: bombay High court will inaugurate a new bench in Kolhapur district,Maharashtra,starting August 18,2025.
• Official Notification: The notification was issued by Chief Justice Alok aradhe with Governor approval.
• District Jurisdiction: Likely jurisdiction includes six districts – Satara, Sangli, Solapur, Kolhapur, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg.
• Existing Benches: Apart from Mumbai’s principal bench, the HC has benches in Nagpur (eastern Maharashtra), Aurangabad (central Maharashtra), and Goa.
• Demand for Accessibility: The decision aims to alleviate travel difficulties for litigants and lawyers currently traveling over 380 km to Mumbai for court hearings.
• CJI’s Endorsement: Chief justice of India B.R. Gavai had supported the long-standing demand for this Bench earlier this month.
• Political Support: CM Devendra Fadnavis called the advancement “historic,” citing consistent efforts during his tenure and gratitude towards justice officials involved.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The establishment of a Kolhapur bench is a meaningful step toward decentralizing judicial access in Maharashtra’s legal framework.Given that litigants from six districts faced an arduous journey to Mumbai for hearings until now, this move heralds increased accessibility while easing pressure on existing benches.

While practical questions like judge allocation remain pending finalization as per reports next week, the potential reduction in delays can positively impact case resolutions across western regions of the state-especially critical at a time when judicial backlogs are often under scrutiny nationwide.

this expansion reflects responsive governance addressing public needs while aligning with broader principles of justice efficiency-a win for legal infrastructure equity across diverse geographies.

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