PUNE: To protest against Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ positive indication about Bombay High Court’s Circuit Bench coming up in Kolhapur, the Pune Bar Association (PBA) members will abstain from work in all courts in the district on Thursday. 

“On Wednesday, CM Fadnavis gave assurance to a delegation from Kolhapur that land and Rs 1,100 crore will be earmarked for the HC bench. The bench will come up on the revenue department land located Shenda Park in Kolhapur,” said Kolhapur District Guardian Minister and Revenue Minister Chandrakant Patil, after meeting the CM in Mumbai. He further said, “The CM also assured us that Rs 100 crore will allotted in the next budget and he will send a recommendation letter to the HC soon.” 

Pune lawyers, who have been campaigning for the HC bench here since 1978, are not happy with this news.

PBA President Advocate Rajendra Daundkar said, “Last year, during inauguration of the Pune Family Court building, Chief Justice Manjula Chellur of the High Court told a delegation of PBA members and senior lawyers that she would soon set up a committee, which would hear the demand on merits and later she would take a decision based on the panel’s finding. CM Fadnavis was also present then. He had pointed out that setting up of the High Court Circuit Bench in Pune was entirely the Chief Justice’s call considering that the State government had already recommended such benches for Pune and Kolhapur. But no decision has been taken and suddenly positive indication about Kolhapur bench is coming from the government. Therefore, lawyers in all courts in the district will abstain from work on Thursday.”