By Ashwini Khondre | Kolhapur
For decades, the people of Kolhapur have fought tirelessly for the establishment of a bench of the Bombay High Court in their district. As history repeatedly shows, Kolhapur rarely receives development benefits without enduring prolonged struggles and the demand for a High Court bench has been no exception. Now, with the implementation of a circuit bench, the long-awaited demand is finally on the path to realization.
Residents of Karveer taluka have waited for more than half a century to see progress on this issue. The dawn of the 21st century has brought with it a ray of light in the form of the circuit bench, reviving hopes for judicial decentralization.
Historical and Political Context
Kolhapur was once considered a bastion of the Peasants and Workers Party some 40 years ago. Over time, with a few exceptions, the region came under the influence of right-wing ideologies. Throughout its modern political history, Kolhapur has mostly stood in opposition to ruling governments, resulting in delayed access to state-backed developmental initiatives. The demand for the Bombay High Court bench stands as a strong example of this trend.
Interestingly, during British rule, recognizing the administrative need, the British had already established benches of the Bombay High Court and the Supreme Court in Kolhapur as early as 1931. This bench handled cases from princely states such as Sangli, Miraj, Kurundwad, Satara, as well as parts of Konkan and Belgaum. It remained functional until around 1949, after which it was shut down.
Judicial Backlog and Rising Pressure
Maharashtra’s massive population naturally results in a large number of civil and criminal cases. Efficient case resolution demands not only an adequate number of judges but also a strong judicial workforce. However, there exists a significant gap between the number of cases and the availability of manpower.
As a result, litigants in six districts Kolhapur, Sangli, Satara, Solapur, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg have been left waiting for justice. Today, over 1.5 lakh cases from these regions are pending in the Bombay High Court. Legal experts often stress that "justice delayed is justice denied," and this situation exemplifies that grim reality.
Recognizing this injustice, the demand for a High Court bench in Kolhapur was formally raised over 50 years ago.
Political Push and Setbacks
Former MP Udaysinhrao Gaikwad, who was elected five times from the Kolhapur Lok Sabha constituency, once introduced a private member’s bill in Parliament to push for the establishment of the bench. The goal was to ensure speedy justice for litigants from the six affected districts.
However, the then Central Government and the Congress High Command assured Ghatge that they were positively inclined toward the demand, advising him that there was no need to table the bill in Parliament. On this assurance, Ghatge withdrew the bill. Unfortunately, the momentum for the demand waned after this incident, and it wasn’t pursued with consistent vigor until recent years.
Now, with the circuit bench being launched, the process of establishing a full-fledged bench has become more feasible. Residents of all six districts can finally hope for faster and more accessible justice.
A Forgotten Dream: The Unified High Court of Southern Maharashtra
Nearly 80 years ago, princely states in Southern Maharashtra convened in Kolhapur to plan the creation of a Joint High Court. On January 8, 1946, rulers of various princely states including Kolhapur, Kurundwad, Miraj, Akkalkot, Aundh, Bhor, Jamkhandi, Jat, Mudhol, Phaltan, Ramdurg, and Sangli assembled to discuss this vision.
A resolution was passed to raise ₹70,620 to establish the court, and a Joint High Court Organization was formed. A detailed framework was proposed to define:
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The court’s structure and jurisdiction,
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Appointment procedures for judges,
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Roles and responsibilities of court staff,
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Functioning and judgment delivery mechanisms.
A specific law was also passed to facilitate the court’s creation. However, over time, many princely states failed to show sustained interest. Soon, these states were forcibly merged into the Indian Union, leading to the collapse of the plan. The dream of a joint High Court was buried, and Kolhapur’s judicial aspirations were once again left unfulfilled.
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