Preparations on in full swing after high court approved circuit bench in Kolhapur
The work at this site is expected to be completed by Aug 9.
The inaugural programme is scheduled for August 16, while the judges and division court of the Bombay HC are set to commence sittings from Aug 18.
Lawyers, political parties, and residents from all six districts — Kolhapur, Sangli, Satara, Solapur, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg — celebrated upon receiving the notification on Friday evening. In Kolhapur city, celebrations took place at the district court complex building, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Chowk, and Dasara Chowk, among other locations.
Firecrackers were set off, and sweets were distributed across all six districts as a long-standing demand for a circuit bench in Kolhapur, pursued for over 40 years, was finally fulfilled.
Hundreds of agitations, indefinite strikes, bike rallies, hunger strikes, and other measures were employed in the past by lawyers and political parties to advocate for the circuit bench.
Kolhapur Bar Council president V R Patil said, "The inauguration of the circuit bench will take place on Aug 16 at the premises of the old district court complex in front of CPR Hospital.
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The renovated building will have three court halls. Two judges will preside over the division bench and two as independents. The neighbouring building will house the registry. Chief Justice of India Bhushan Gavai, Bombay high court Justice Alok Aradhe, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, deputy chief ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, Goa chief minister Dr Pramod Sawant, and judges from the circuit bench will be present for the inaugural ceremony.
"
Meanwhile, the land survey process for the 25-acre premises reserved for the division bench of the HC at Shenda Park will also begin soon, following orders from the Kolhapur collector.
Guardian minister Prakash Abitkar said, "The circuit bench has been approved in the first phase in Kolhapur, paving the way for the establishment of a divisional bench in the future. The decision of the circuit bench will benefit parties in six districts, including Kolhapur."
A demand to establish the circuit bench in Solapur was also raised by the Solapur Bar Association. Babasaheb Jadhav, the president of the Solapur District Bar Association, said, "We were not opposed to the setting up of the Kolhapur circuit bench, but we were demanding that it should be set up in Solapur. The entire western Maharashtra region will benefit from the setting up of the Kolhapur circuit bench."
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