The Circuit Bench of the Bombay High Court at Kolhapur, comprising Justices M. S. Karnik and Ajit B. Kadethankar, on Wednesday granted the petitioners from the Kolhapur District Urban Banks Cooperative Association Ltd. and others permission to amend their case by adding additional petitioners.
Senior Advocate Girish Godbole, appearing for the petitioners, requested the amendment, which the Court allowed to be completed by 4th December 2025. The matter has now been listed for further hearing on 5th December 2025.
Advocates Louis Shah, Prasad Nagargoje, and Abhay A. Jadhavar appeared alongside Godbole for the petitioners. Vijay Killedar represented several Union respondents, while S. B. Kalel, AGP, appeared for the State respondents.
It bears recalling that twenty-six urban cooperative banks from Kolhapur, along with their district association, have challenged the retrospective application of the amended director-tenure rule.
The amendment, effective 1 August 2025, increased the maximum tenure of directors from eight to ten years. The petitioners contend that counting service before this date amounts to retrospective application and could disqualify several sitting directors in upcoming elections, prompting them to seek clarity and interim protection from the Court.
The amendment specifically allows the petitioners to include additional urban banks and associations to strengthen their case.
It’s not a matter of retrospective or prospective…
The tenure limitation is against to fundamental rights as nowhere there is limitation of period to contest in an election.
The limitation of tenure should be taken back.