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CM writes to Chief Justice of Bombay HC over demand for circuit bench in Kolhapur
According to a survey conducted in 2005, the Kolhapur Bench would have reduced 45% of the burden on Bombay High Court
PUNE Minister of state for home, information technology and guardian minister of Kolhapur, Satej Patil, has said that chief minister Uddhav Thackeray has written to the Chief Justice of Bombay High Court over the demand of a High Court bench in Kolhapur, something Pune is also a strong contender for.
According to Patil, the letter has been sent as a response to the recent all-party meeting from six districts over the demand.
Patil said, “As assured to the elected representatives from six districts during a meeting held on Tuesday for the HC Bench in Kolhapur, chief minister Uddhav Thackeray has written to Chief Justice of Bombay High Court.”
Earlier on Tuesday, Thackeray held a meeting on the demand of the High Court Bench in Kolhapur at Vidhan Bhavan. Ramraje Naik Nimbalkar, chairman of the legislative council took lead for the meeting. Thackeray, according to Patil was positive about the bench and said the necessary steps would be taken. On the day after the assurance, the chief minister wrote the letter to the Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court.
Another meeting of ministers, party MPs, MLAs, Bar Council members, Kolhapur Bench Action Committee members, advocates from Kolhapur, Satara, Sangli, Solapur, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg was held in Mumbai last on March 3 to discuss the demand of the circuit bench/bench of Bombay High Court at Kolhapur.
According to the report submitted by the then Chief Justice of Bombay High Court, Mohit Shah, the Circuit Bench for six districts at Kolhapur is possible. The Circuit Bench, according to Patil, is the need of the hour for the convenience of the public and the advocates from the six districts. Citizens from these six districts are compelled to travel for 400 to 500 km to attend the proceedings in Mumbai High Court. The Circuit Bench at Kolhapur will not only save money and time for the people but will also give them respite from mental annoyance, elected representatives said in the meeting.
“The three-and-a-half-decade long demand is in the last leg of compliance. The elected representatives from these six districts have anonymously approved the proposal of the Circuit Bench. The meeting between Chief Justice of Mumbai High Court Dipankar Dutt and the Bench Action Committee is scheduled to take place on March 10. In the backdrop of the meeting, the elected representatives from six districts will sign the letter of consent for the Circuit Bench.
According to a survey conducted in 2005, the Kolhapur Bench would have reduced 45% of the burden on Bombay High Court. “Considering the current pendency of the cases in Mumbai High Court, the Bench of Circuit Bench at Kolhapur will help reduce 60% burden on the High Court,” Patil said.
