If the historic inauguration of the Bombay High Court’s bench at Kolhapur by the Chief Justice of India and other dignitaries was grandiose to say the least, the very first sitting of the full bench the next day was no less nostalgic and momentous for both the Bar and the Bench. The excitement, enthusiasm, and energy among the lawyers and the local community were truly electrifying, marking yet another milestone in the region’s judicial history.

The momentous day marking the formal commencement of the Bombay High Court’s fourth bench at Kolhapur began in the magnificent Central Court , where the then Chief Justice of the High Court of Kolhapur State once presided.

The resplendent hall, adorned with rich wooden décor, a lofty ceiling, and an ornate chandelier, evoked memories of a bygone era when, during the period from 1929 to 1939 , the very same premises housed three judges of the High Court, Chief Justice R P Sawant, Raosaheb S S Bhosale and Raosaheb V G Chavan.

In those days, the princely state of Kolhapur had its own High Court, Supreme Court, and District Court—an independent judicial legacy that still resonates within those walls. Sometime around 1945, before the merger of Kolhapur state into the State of Bombay, this court became the High Court of Judicature of Deccan states.

The journey of the circuit bench at Kolhapur began with the holding of a ceremonial court presided over by all the four judges, the administrative judge Justice M S Karnik, Justice S G Dige, Justice Sharmila Deshmukh and Justice Santosh Chapalgaonkar.

Once the judges formally assumed their seats in the Central Court, the Additional Solicitor General Mr. Anil Singh, Advocate General Dr. Birendra Saraf, Kolhapur Bar president Vijay Patil and Senior advocates, Rajiv Chavan, Anil Sakhare, Rajiv Patil, Bar Council members Advocates Sangram Desai and Uday Warunjikar, AAWI President Prashant Relekar, octogenarian advocate K A Kapase, advocates Louise Shah and Tejpal Ingle took turns addressing the ceremonial proceedings with their speeches.

At that moment, Justice Sharmila Deshmukh remarked with a smile that the Bench was equally eager to hear the voices of the younger advocates. Soon advocates like Sandeep Koregave and Vivek Patil addressed the ceremonial court proceedings.

The atmosphere within the precincts was charged with anticipation, almost intoxicating in its intensity. Dressed in their formal coats and robes, lawyers—both seasoned and young—moved with an air of pride and purpose, while some even arrived accompanied by their litigants, whose faces reflected a quiet glimmer of hope.

All the advocates who addressed the ceremonial bench unanimously expressed their gratitude to the Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai for his pivotal role in establishing the circuit bench at Kolhapur. They emphasized that the six districts under the jurisdiction of the bench possess a strong pool of legal talent and leadership, which will help cultivate a robust work culture. They assured that the Bar will uphold the noblest traditions of the profession and will work towards realizing the Chief Justice of India’s vision of ‘ delivering justice at the very doorstep of litigants’.

Once the welcome and commemorative speeches concluded, advocates and judges streamed out of the Central Court , eagerly making their way to the designated courtrooms of Justice S G Dige, and Justice Santosh Chapalgaonkar, located close to the hall.

As the administrative judge, Justice Makarand Karnik was greatly commended for shouldering the responsibility of establishing the magnificent premises of the Kolhapur bench, all while diligently fulfilling his duties as a judge of the Bombay High Court. He was lauded for executing both with exemplary finesse and vision.