In a move aimed at improving access to justice for litigants in southern Maharashtra, the Bombay High Court will begin holding sittings in Kolhapur from August 18, 2025. Chief Justice Alok Aradhe has issued an official notification designating Kolhapur as an additional venue for High Court sittings, under powers conferred by Section 51(3) of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956. The decision, approved by the Governor of Maharashtra, was published in the Maharashtra Government Gazette (Extraordinary Part IV-C, Notification No. 41) dated August 1, 2025.
With this development, Kolhapur becomes the fifth city where the Bombay High Court will operate, supplementing its principal seat in Mumbai and existing benches at Nagpur, Aurangabad, and Panaji (Goa).
Decentralising Justice Delivery in Maharashtra and Goa
The Bombay High Court is among the oldest and most prominent high courts in India, exercising jurisdiction over the states of Maharashtra and Goa, and the Union Territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. To effectively administer justice across this vast territory, the court functions through a decentralized structure:
- Principal Seat at Mumbai: Headquarters of the Bombay High Court
- Nagpur Bench: Serving the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra
- Aurangabad Bench: Catering to the Marathwada region
- Panaji Bench (High Court of Bombay at Goa): Handling matters from the state of Goa
- New Kolhapur Venue: Set to serve the litigants of southern Maharashtra from August 18
The new sittings at Kolhapur are expected to significantly ease the burden on litigants from southern Maharashtra who currently have to travel to Mumbai, reducing both time and cost for legal redress.
The sanctioned strength of the Bombay High Court stands at 94 judges, comprising 71 permanent and 23 additional judges. However, as of the latest data, only 66 judges are currently in position—far below full capacity. This shortage has long been a concern, affecting the pace of judicial proceedings.
The establishment of sittings in Kolhapur is seen as a step towards improving judicial reach, but it also adds to the logistical and staffing challenges the High Court already faces due to its understaffed benches.
