Come August 18, the long-awaited circuit bench of the Bombay High Court will finally become a reality, bringing much-needed relief to over 16,000 practicing advocates across six districts of southern Maharashtra — Kolhapur, Sangli, Satara, Solapur, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg, after more than four decades of persistent demand. Bar association members from these districts, overwhelmed by the development, credit the milestone to Chief Justice of India Bhushan Gavai.

mid-day had earlier reported on the Bar`s demand for a circuit bench. In its March 19, 2022 article titled ‘Need a Bombay HC bench at Kolhapur, lawyers demand,’ the newspaper highlighted that the demand was rooted in the principles outlined in the Preamble of the Constitution — to secure social, economic, and political justice.

A follow-up article dated June 9, 2023, titled ‘Demand for circuit bench of Bombay HC in Kolhapur faces another setback,’ noted that the demand had gained momentum in March 2022, when then Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray wrote to the Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, offering a ray of hope to advocates and litigants.