Pune, 16 July 2025: A united front of lawyer associations across Pune district has issued a 10-day ultimatum to the Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court and the Governor of Maharashtra, demanding the establishment of a circuit bench of the Bombay High Court in Pune. The ultimatum was the outcome of a joint meeting held at the District Court on Wednesday, where legal representatives stressed that a decision on the bench must be made within the given time frame.
The meeting saw the formation of a ‘Circuit Bench Action Committee’ under the leadership of senior advocate S.K. Jain to pursue the demand. Advocates from the Pune Bar Association (PBA), as well as various other district-level legal organizations, were present.
Key participants included Adv. Sudhakar Awhad, Adv. Rajendra Umap of the Maharashtra and Goa Advocates Council, Adv. Ahmed Khan Pathan, PBA President Adv. Hemant Jhanzad, Vice-President Adv. Sameer Bhunde, and advocates Surekha Bhosale, Dhairyashil Sanas, Rani Kamble, Supriya Kothari, and Rekha Karande-Dangat.
The lawyers made it clear that this demand is not only theirs but also represents the collective voice of people across western Maharashtra. They emphasized that Pune, being a major city, urgently needs a High Court bench and that further delay will not be tolerated.
If no official action is taken by July 26, the legal community has warned of a complete boycott of court proceedings across Pune district starting August 1. According to PBA representatives, the protest will involve halting all legal work in district courts, marking the beginning of an indefinite judicial shutdown in support of their demand.
While expressing firm resolve, the representatives clarified that they do not oppose a High Court bench in Kolhapur but reiterated that Pune’s growing population and case load justify a separate bench in the city.
The Maharashtra and Goa Advocates Council has also been asked to coordinate follow-up efforts with state and judicial authorities on behalf of the local bar associations.