IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CIRCUIT BENCH AT KOLHAPUR CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION [ST.] NO. 1956 OF 2026 Kolhapur District Bar Association and Others. ...Petitioners.

Versus The State of Maharashtra and Others. ...Respondents.

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Mr. Tejpal Ingale, Mr. Shrikrishna Ganbavale, Mr. Umesh Mankapure, and Mr. R. B.

Mandlik i/b Mr. Swaroop M. Karade for the Petitioner.

Mr. Rajiv Chavan, Senior Advocate along with Mr. Satyavrat Joshi appointed as Amici Curiae.

Dr. Milind Sathe, Advocate General along with Mr. Shishir Hiray, Chief PP, Ms. Neha Bhide GP and Ms. Tejas Kapre, AGP for the Respondent-State..

Mr. Vijay Killedar, Mr. Rahul Rote and Mr. Shivraj Jagdale for UOI.

Mr. Shekhar Jagtap and Mr. Sanket Khandagale for BCI.

Dr. Uday Warunjikar and Mr. Prashant Kamble for BCMG.

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Coram : Madhav J. Jamdar &

Pravin S. Patil, JJ.

Date : May 8, 2026.

P. C. :

1. At the outset, Mr. Ingale and Mr. Ganbavale, learned Counsel appearing for the PIL Petitioners state that they may be granted leave to delete the Petitioner Nos.3 and 4 and further they may be granted leave to implead “Bombay High Court Kolhapur Bench Bar Association” as Petitioner No. 3. Leave as sought