The Bombay High Court has initiated a suo motu public interest litigation regarding the deteriorating condition of the Bhaskarrao Jadhav Library in Kolhapur, stating that public facilities cannot be treated as attics where old books are left to die.
A division bench comprising Justice Milind N. Jadhav and Justice Nandesh S. Deshpande took up the matter on July 21 following a July 14 Marathi newspaper report detailing extensive structural damage to the Ruikar Colony premises. The court appointed advocates Ritesh Thobade and Bhargavi Patil through the Legal Aid Committee as amici curiae to assist in the legal proceedings.
Inspection Ordered Ahead Of Next Hearing
The High Court directed the appointed amici curiae to visit and inspect the library building, draft a comprehensive public interest litigation outlining necessary remedial steps, and submit their findings prior to the next hearing scheduled for August 18. Both the Kolhapur Municipal Corporation and local library administrators were instructed to facilitate the inspection.
During the hearing, legal counsel representing the Kolhapur Municipal Corporation informed the bench that a work order had been issued in November 2025, with repair activities commencing in April 2026. However, the specific scope of those works was not detailed. Noting that recent media reports painted a conflicting picture of the building’s physical state, the bench directed the municipal body to submit the official work order alongside photographic proof of ongoing efforts.
Severe Monsoon Leakage Threatens Rare Collection
The civic library, registered in December 1972 and maintained by the Kolhapur Municipal Corporation since opening its Ruikar Colony branch in December 1979, houses 21,825 books and features a 4,000-square-foot first-floor reading hall alongside a ground-floor facility and a dedicated newspaper section.
According to the newspaper account that prompted judicial intervention, heavy monsoon rains caused significant ceiling breaches, resulting in active water seepage that risks destroying rare books. The structure also exhibits long-term neglect, including corroded window frames and damaged doors.
Despite these issues, the facility serves more than 400 regular visitors, primarily students preparing for competitive examinations from surrounding localities including Uchgaon, Vikramnagar, Temblaiwadi, Kadamwadi, Sadar Bazar, Muktasainik Vasahat, Jadhav Wadi, and Ruikar Colony. Charging a nominal annual membership fee of Rs 1,000, it offers quiet study space for candidates with limited domestic room and financial resources. Students have also proposed transforming adjacent open land into a modernized facility for academic workshops and collaboration.
Preserving Educational Infrastructure In The Digital Age
The bench highlighted the historical context of the issue, noting that Kolhapur holds the distinction of enacting India’s first Public Libraries Act in 1945.
Addressing the broader societal role of public learning spaces, the judges observed that libraries continue to serve as crucial non-commercial civic hubs that bridge the digital divide. The court emphasized that even in an era dominated by artificial intelligence and rapid technological change, public libraries remain essential institutions for academic research, community interaction, and equitable access to information and study materials for underserved populations.
