HC quashes Sangli APMC trifurcation order, restores elected committee | Kolhapur News

The Kolhapur bench also granted the state one month to initiate fresh proceedings in accordance with law and pass a fresh order after hearing all stakeholders

Kolhapur: The Kolhapur bench of the Bombay high court has quashed and set aside April 6 order directing the trifurcation of the Sangli Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) and restored the status quo ante, paving the way for the reinstatement of the elected market committee.The court also granted the state one month to initiate fresh proceedings in accordance with law and pass a fresh order after hearing all stakeholders.State had split the Sangli APMC into three separate market committees in Miraj, Kavathe Mahankal and Jat, citing administrative requirements. The move had triggered strong opposition from politicians of MVA-backed panel controlling the Sangli APMC, who alleged that state was attempting to weaken the existing body for political reasons.The trifurcation order was challenged before the HC by Sangli APMC chairperson Sujay Nana Shinde, the Sangli Chamber of Commerce and the Shetkari Sanghatana.At the outset of the hearing, special counsel S B Talekar, appearing for the state, informed the division bench of justices Milind Jadhav and Nandesh Deshpande that govt had decided to withdraw the April 6 order. He submitted that the state intended to undertake the exercise afresh by following the procedure prescribed under law and after granting an opportunity of hearing to the petitioners and other affected parties.Recording the state’s stand, the bench quashed the impugned order and restored the Sangli APMC. “The impugned order dated April 6, 2026, directing trifurcation of the Sangli APMC stands quashed and set aside. As a result, the status quo ante is restored and the market committee of the Sangli APMC is restored until a fresh order is passed by the state pursuant to proceedings contemplated under Section 44 of the APMC Act and the Maharashtra Agricultural Produce Marketing (Development and Regulation) Act, 1963 and the rules framed thereunder,” the court’s order stated.The bench also directed the administrator appointed by the state government after the trifurcation order to immediately hand over charge to the restored Sangli APMC.