Bombay High Court gets fourth bench at Kolhapur

The Bombay High Court will set up its fourth bench in Kolhapur from August 18, 2025, easing the burden on the principal bench in Mumbai and improving access to justice in western Maharashtra and southern Konkan.With this, the high court will now have benches in Mumbai (principal bench), Nagpur, Aurangabad, Goa, and Kolhapur. The Kolhapur bench will have jurisdiction over the districts of Satara, Sangli, Solapur, Kolhapur, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg. Details regarding the number of judges and other administrative aspects are expected to be announced next week.
This  has been a long-standing demand of the legal fraternity in the region. Advocates have argued that litigants are forced to travel long distances to Mumbai, leading to delays and increased expenses. A notification to this effect, was issued by Chief Justice Alok Aradhe on Friday (August 1). "In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (3) of Section 51 of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956 (No. 37 of 1956), and all other powers enabling me in this behalf, I Alok Aradhe, Chief Justice of the High Court of Judicature at Bombay, with the approval of the Governor of Maharashtra, appoint Kolhapur as a place at which Judges and Division Courts of the High Court may also sit, with effect from 18th August 2025," the notification reads.
Chief Justice of India B R Gavai had earlier this month also supported the demands for a HC bench at Kolhapur. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis extended his gratitude to CJI Gavai and HC Chief Justice Aradhe for their support in enabling the setting up of the new bench. "This will make justice more accessible and efficient, while saving citizens' time, effort, and money," he added, congratulating the people and legal fraternity of the region. Terming it a "historic development," the CM expressed his delight at the decision, stating the matter had been under active consideration since the beginning of his tenure. Fadnavis also handles the law and judiciary portfolio.