Kolhapur, Aug. 17 -- Chief Justice of India (CJI) Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai on Sunday inaugurated the new Circuit Bench of the Bombay High Court at Kolhapur and assured that the process to convert it into a permanent bench would be expedited soon.

Addressing a gathering at Kolhapur after the inauguration, CJI Gavai said the bench is meant to bring justice closer to litigants from remote areas of western Maharashtra. "This judicial arrangement is not for lawyers but for the poor and underprivileged. Deliver justice here in the spirit of Shahu Maharaj's vision of equality," he urged.

"The High Court should soon submit a proposal for setting up a permanent bench, and that demand will be fulfilled shortly. For a small land dispute of two acr...