Bombay High Court Pune Bench: Jurisdiction, Location & How to Approach

About the Bombay High Court

The Bombay High Court is one of India’s oldest High Courts, established in 1862. It has jurisdiction over Maharashtra, Goa, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, and Daman & Diu. The principal seat is in Mumbai, with benches at Nagpur, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad), and the Pune Bench.

Pune Bench — Not a Separate High Court

The Pune Bench (also called the Bombay High Court Annexe, Pune) is a circuit bench of the Bombay High Court — not an independent court. It sits in Pune and hears matters from the Pune division, including Pune, Nashik, Ahmednagar, Solapur, Satara, Sangli, Kolhapur, and Ratnagiri districts. High Court judges sit in rotation from the principal seat at Mumbai.

What Matters Are Heard at the Pune Bench?

• Anticipatory bail and regular bail applications in serious criminal matters after Sessions Court rejection
• FIR quashing petitions (S.528 BNSS writ petitions) for FIRs registered in the Pune division
• Criminal revisions challenging Sessions Court orders
• Writ petitions (Article 226/227) against government authorities in the Pune division
• Civil appeals from lower courts in the Pune division

Location

The Bombay High Court Annexe (Pune Bench) is located at Near New Law College, Shivajinagar, Pune 411005 — close to the Pune District Court complex where the Sessions Court also sits.

When Must You File at Mumbai Instead of Pune?

• Company law matters (Company Bench at Mumbai)
• Matters involving the original side jurisdiction of the High Court
• Certain writ petitions against central government authorities headquartered in Mumbai
• Letters Patent Appeals (LPA) in some matters

Urgent Hearings — Can You Get Listed the Same Day?

Yes. For genuine emergencies — imminent arrests, arrest warrants, custody expiry in NDPS or MCOCA matters — the Bombay High Court has provision for urgent mentioning before the court. An experienced advocate can have an urgent matter listed before a Judge on the same day. This is crucial for bail emergencies where liberty is at stake.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Pune Bench have the same powers as the Mumbai principal seat?

Yes. The Pune Bench exercises the full powers of the Bombay High Court — the same power to grant bail, quash FIRs, issue writs, and hear appeals as the principal seat in Mumbai. The only limitation is geographic: the Pune Bench generally hears matters arising from the Pune division, while Mumbai handles matters from the rest of Maharashtra.

Can I approach the Pune Bench directly for bail without going to Sessions Court first?

For anticipatory bail and regular bail in serious non-bailable offences, you must ordinarily first apply at Sessions Court and obtain a rejection before approaching the High Court. However, in exceptional cases — MCOCA, NDPS commercial quantity, or where extreme urgency exists — courts have accepted direct High Court applications. Your lawyer will advise based on the specific offence and circumstances.

What are the working hours of the Bombay High Court Pune Bench?

The court generally sits from 10:30 AM to 4:30 PM on working days (Monday to Friday), with a lunch break from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM. Urgent mention matters are listed early in the day. Court does not sit on Saturdays, Sundays, or gazetted holidays, though urgent bail matters can in extreme circumstances be placed before a judge in chambers.

Advocate Akash Chikate regularly appears at the Bombay High Court Pune Bench and the Mumbai principal seat. Contact us for any matter requiring urgent High Court intervention.