85,000 cases to be transferred to Kolhapur's circuit bench
This move aims to significantly reduce the caseload at the main Bombay high court. The approved circuit bench will serve the districts of Kolhapur, Sangli, Satara, Solapur, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg.
The new bench will be housed in three renovated halls of the old court building on Bhausingji Road. This historic building once served as the Supreme Court for the Chhatrapati family during pre-independence times, and more recently, as the district and sessions court until its relocation to a new facility in Kasba Bawada a few years ago.
According to S S Khot, president of the Kolhapur District Bar Association, the transferred cases will include a mix of recent filings and older matters, all of which will receive daily hearings.
"To ensure smooth operations, around 40 staffers will be transferred from the Bombay high court to the new circuit bench," he said.
The administration has suggested 40 acres of Shenda Park, located just on the outskirts of Kolhapur city, to build the court infrastructure.
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"This, however, will take four to five years," Khot said.
The inauguration of the circuit bench will be held on Aug 16 at Mahasainik Darbar Hall. Khot said that chief justice of India Bhushav Gavai will preside over the function, and chief ministers of Maharashtra and Goa, chief justice of Bombay HC, and both deputy CMs will attend the function.
Meanwhile, on Sunday, MLA and executive chairman of the state planning commission Rajesh Kshirsagar visited the under-renovation building at Bhausingji Road.
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