Chief Justice Bhushan Gavai Inaugurates Kolhapur Circuit Bench Building

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and Bombay High Court Chief Justice Alok Aradhe Attend

Kolhapur, Aug 2025 : Chief Justice Bhushan Gavai inaugurated the new building of the Kolhapur Circuit Bench of the Bombay High Court and unveiled its foundation plaque today. The historic event was graced by the presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and Bombay High Court Chief Justice Alok Aradhe.

Also present were Public Health Minister and Kolhapur Guardian Minister Prakash Abitkar, State Planning Board Executive President Rajesh Kshirsagar, MPs Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj and Dhairyasheel Mane, Bombay High Court senior judge Chandrashekhar, judges appointed to the Circuit Bench Justice Makarand Karnik, Justice Shivkumar Dige, Justice Sharmila Deshmukh, Justice S.G. Chapalgaonkar, Justice Bharati Dangre, Kolhapur District Guardian Judge Manish Pitale, Justice Anil Kilor, MLAs Chandradeep Narke and Shivaji Patil, District Collector Amol Yedge, Municipal Commissioner K. Manjulakshmi, Special Inspector General of Police Sunil Phulari, Chief Engineer of PWD Pune Division Atul Chavan, Padma Shri awardee senior editor Dr. Pratapsingh Jadhav, along with several dignitaries from various fields.

The program began with a Guard of Honour by the police, followed by an inspection of the Circuit Bench premises by the dignitaries.

The state government sanctioned ₹46 crore for the construction of this Circuit Bench building located opposite CPR Hospital. Through coordination between the district administration, municipal corporation, PWD, and police department, the building and surrounding premises were beautifully renovated.

Heritage Buildings Revived by the Circuit Bench

The district court building opposite CPR was originally constructed in 1874 across 4,200 sq. ft. With the district court relocated to Kasba Bawda, the building had fallen into disuse, though some sections housed the family court. In record time, the heritage structure has now been renovated to house the Kolhapur Circuit Bench of the Bombay High Court, breathing new life into historic structures that stand witness to the region’s judicial history.

Transformation of the Premises

Thanks to the PWD’s efforts, the Circuit Bench buildings were repaired and refurbished within just a month, transforming the area and adding to the city’s beauty.

Court Working Hours

The working hours of the Kolhapur Circuit Bench have been fixed. Excluding public holidays, the first session will run from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm, followed by a lunch break from 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm, and the second session from 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm.

Division Bench & Facilities

A Division Bench has been set up in the renovated heritage family court building, with separate chambers and offices for two judges. Additionally, the RCC building houses two Single Benches, registrar offices, seating arrangements for staff, and a record room.

Various Offices

Government advocates’ offices are located in the double-storey building on the right side of the entrance, with more offices in a nearby two-storey block. A mediation room has also been established.

Radha Bai Building

The historic Radha Bai Building now accommodates the registrar’s office, record room, strong room, and other offices. Renovation has enhanced its beauty, and it now features a judge’s lounge and chambers for government lawyers.

Benefit for Citizens of Western Maharashtra & Konkan

The Circuit Bench will serve citizens from six districts—Kolhapur, Satara, Sangli, Solapur, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg. This will ensure faster and more accessible justice, saving time, money, and effort for citizens. It is also expected to promote education, industry, trade, and tourism, while providing new opportunities for law students, practitioners, and researchers.