History of District Court, Nashik

Nashik comes in western Maharashtra region. Nashik District lies in the north-west part of the State. Nashik is situated on the Deccan Plateau being about 600 meters above mean sea level. Weather is pleasant throughout the year. Jalgaon and Aurangabad Districts lie to the east of Nashik District. To its south lies Ahmadnagar District. To its west there are Thane District and a part of Gujrath State. Dhule District and a part of Gujrath lie to its north.

Nashik District came under the regime ‘Chalukat’ and then ‘Rajkut’ and again under the regime of ‘Chalukat’. From the period of end of 12th century A.D. till 1312, it was under the regime of Yadavas of Devgiri. After 1313, it was under the regime of rulers of Delhi for a short period and subsequently formed to be a part of Bahamani State of Gulbarga and it was under that regime from 1347 to 1390. And from 1390 till the middle of 17th century, it was ruled by the Nizams of Ahmednagar and was set free from their rule by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. After that, during the rule of Emperor Aurangjeb, he merged this place of Nasik into Mughal’s empire and named the city of Nasik as ‘Gulshanabad’. Subsequently, Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj set free Nashik (Gulshanabad) from the Mughal’s rule and then from 1818 ie until the decline of Peshwas, Nasik was under the British rule till India got freedom.

Nashik District was then divided into two parts during the time when British started its ruling. ‘Peth’ was the place of office of Additional Collector and ‘Thane’ was a District place, which was the office of the Collector. The offices of Police Headquarters and Superintendent of Police were also at Thane, which is apparent from the letters of Shri. H. B. Bowell dated 30.12.1857 and 4.1.1858 delivered to the then Collector of Thane Shri. Morgan. During the period of 1857 and 1858, the first Assistant Magistrate was the Assistant Collector and it appears that Police Superintendent also exercised the power to try Criminal Cases. As mentioned in the letter of Shri. Bowell dated 1.1.1858, the Magistrate of Peth had tried the case against Raje Bhagwantrao Neelkanthrao Pawar and sentenced him to death for the crime of waging war, by hanging which was executed in public in front of Court of Peth. Shri. Bowell had also sentenced 13 people to life imprisonment, earlier known to be as the punishment of ‘Kala Pani’. Also Capt. Walkar who was then Police Superintendent, had punished Dhondu Kali Vallabh and 13 others. The present southern part of Nashik District i.e Nashik, Sinnar, Niphad, Yeola the area of these Talukas was included in the Ahmednagar District. The Court of District and Sessions Judge was not in existence in Nashik District till 1884. It was established in Nashik in the year 1884 and started functioning in 1885.

The old District Court Building is built in black Stone in British Regine and the new one is built in the year 2005. The new building of District Court is inaugurated on 18 September, 2005 at the auspicious hands of Honourable Shri. Justice Dalveer Bhandari.

The First District Judge was Mr. M. B. Bekar, who has presided over for the period 1885-1891.

The Court of Civil Judge, Junior Division was established at Malegaon in the year 1891 in the existing court building. The Sessions Court was established at Malegaon from 29th October 1988, in the said building of Civil Judge, Junior Division, Principal court presided over by an Additional District & Additional Sessions Judge to cover the areas comprising the Revenue Talukas of Malegaon, Nandgaon & Satana. The Court of Civil Judge, Senior Division was established at Malegaon w.e.f. 1st January 1990, to cover the areas comprising the Revenue Talukas of Malegaon, Nandgaon & Satana. Niphad is another Taluka place in this District. The Court of Civil Judge & JMFC Niphad established in the year 1964 in the rental premises. Thereafter a separate building was constructed for the said Court in the year 1979. The Court of Civil Judge Senior Division was established in the year 1993, to cover the areas comprising the revenue Talukas as Niphad, Yeola, Chandwad & Pimpalgaon. The Court of Sessions Division is established from 20 June 1999, in the existing Court building. Principal Court is presided over by District Judge-1. There are Civil Courts at Satana, Sinnar, Nandgaon, Dindori, Chandwad, Kalwan, Yeola, Pimpalgaon(B), Manmad City, Manmad (Rly) and Nashik-Road, Motor Vehicle Court.

Other relevant information :-
Milestones in the history of Nashik
Some of the major events in the history of Nashik are :

1840 : Sarvajanik Vachanalaya established. (Public Library).
1854 : Sharanpur Colony formed.
1861 : Deolali Cantonment formed.
1862 : Nashik Road railway station was built.
1864 : Nashik Municipality formed.
1869 : Nashik District formed.
1894 : Saint Andrew Church built.
1894 : Construction work for Victoria Bridge started.
1910 : Police Training College established.
1922 : Distillery started at Nashik Road.
1927 : Security Press formed at Nashik Road.
1941 : Artillery Center migrated to Nashik Road form Quetta in Pakistan.

Krantiveer Vasantrao Narayanrao Naik son of the soil, who contributed in a freedom fighter and was known as “Krantiveer”.

He was born in Sinnar Taluka of Nashik district and has revolutionary life. He inspired by the call given by Krantisingh Nana Patil of Patri Sarkar. He therefore contributed in many revolutionary activities for freedom from British India. After independence, under his leadership as a Chairman of “Maharashtra State Road Transport” the entire organization of S.T. Mahamandal is established in Maharashtra.

He was convicted in a political trial in the year 1940. After release from jail he participated in “Quit India” movement under the leadership of “Father of our nation Mahatma Gandhi”. Many people were infringed in jail as they participated in the said movement. Krantiveer Naik was underground for some period and by ultimate sacrifice, contributed for the said movement.

The English Government has published a notification under “Defence of India Act” dtd. 19.12.1941. As per said notification entire property of Vasantrao Naik was attached.

Family members were tortured. Ultimately on 17.07.1944. Vasantrao Naik was arrested at Nashik. Sessions Case No. 57/1944 was lodged before Sessions Judge Shri. G. H. Gugooli ( I.C.S.). The said matter commenced on 23.10.1944 and compiled on 28.10.1944. The said trial was attended by various citizens, students and huge followers of Vasantrao Naik. Perhaps this is the trial where highest number of citizens have attended the court for witnessing the said trial. On behalf of Govt. public prosecutor Shri. Nanasaheb Gadgil was appointed.

On behalf of accused Vasantrao Naik, the famous senior advocate Shri. Jape Barrister Pardiwala appeared. They were assisted by the members of Nashik Bar Association Shri. Madhavrao Janorkar, R.H. Gadre, Wamanrao Yardi and leader of Maharashtra Shri. Bhausaheb Hire.

21 witnesses were examined and through it was a era of British Rule with British Judge, the defence was so strong and perfect that Judge Gugooli has acquitted Shri. Vasantrao Naik on 06.01.1945.

The Main contention in the case was that, by remaining underground Vasantrao has raised the political movements and has caused a war against Government and therefore under Sec. 6 of Restriction And Retentions Ordinance 1944, he has committed a crime and charge was accordingly framed. The defence of accused was that he was never underground, he was meeting everybody including Police and therefore was not underground. Ultimately it was contended by the accused that the provisions of above Ordinance are not applicable and therefore the notification is wrongly applied. Ultimately the Judge has held that there is no sufficient evidence to held that Krantiveer Vasantrao was underground and therefore defence of accused was accepted.

The citizen of Nashik had no opportunity of hearing trial, which is quoted as one of the trial of freedom fight of India. Many learned senior counsels, barristers outside Nashik as well as form Nashik Bar Association, has advanced an intellectual arguments, which are still remembered today. Because of said trial name of Nashik District Court is also recorded in a history of Freedom Fight, for which we all Nashikkar are proud of and also our further generation will be proud of it.

JACKSON MURDER CASE

Story of The Nashik Conspiracy
The Mitra Mandal

The evidence in this case establishes that prior to the year 1906, an association of young men, mostly Brahmans, existed in Nashik under leadership of Ganesh & Vinayak Savarkar which was known as the Mitra-Mela. In it were reproduced the features of other similar associations in the Deccan to which reference has already been made. Exciting songs were prepared for the Ganpati & Shivaji festivals & the members of the Mitra-Mela used to join in singing these songs either in procession or in the precincts of some temple or other place of assembly. Physical instruction was given to members by one of the witnesses in this case & by a Mahomedan brought for the purpose from Baroda. The activities of the association did not, however, cease there for we have evidence, which we accept as true, that meeting were held at the house of Ganesh Savarkar & Aba Darekar, one of the song-writers of the association, at which the biographies of patriotic revolutionists were read & re-read, the particular favorites being Mazzini, Shivaji & Ramdas where discussions were carried on with regard to the means for attaining independence for India. At these meeting the methods advocated were the education of public by means of lectures, books & songs, & the preparation for rising against the British Rulers by collection of arms & ammunition. We have examples of inflammatory speeches delivered by Vinayak & Narayan Savarkar & by Mahadev Bhat, & a photographs of number of members of the Mitra Mela, several of whom are among the accused, grouped round Vinayak Savarkar of whom are among the accused, grouped round Vinayak Savarkar in which four or five pictures of Shivaji, A board bearing the words “Vande Mataram” & a book bearing the name of Mazzini on the outer cover are prominently displayed, which corroborate the general description of the aims & methods of the association given by the witnesses. The photograph Exhibit A-271, to which reference has been made, marks an important stage in the history of the association. Its occasion was the impending departure of Vinayak Savarkar for England in the middle of June 1906, a step which he was enabled to take owing to his being the recipient of a scholarship given by Shamji Krishna Varma, the founder of the India House at Highgate. Up to the time of his departure, Vinayak Savarkar had been one of the most active & probably the most stimulating of the members of the Mitra Mela. In the early part of 1906 speeches were delivered by him in Poona & in Nashik the object of which was to arouse the country & to suggest how by means of mental training & amp; physical exercises, preparation might be made for successful revolt.

He following persons were arrested in connection with the murder of Mr. Jackson. The Collector of Nashik, on the night of the 21st December, 1909:- Made statement on Anant Laxman Kanhere 21st December 1909. 21st December 1909 Krishna Gopal Karve 24th December 1909 6th January 1910. Vinayak Narayan Deshpande 23rd December 1909, 6th January 1910. Shankar Ramchandra Soman 23rd December 1909, 6th January 1910. Waman Daji Narayan Joshi 30th December 1909 4th January 1910. Ganesh B. Vaidya 22nd December 1909 2nd January 1910. Dattatrya Pandurang Joshi 22nd December 1909 5th January 1910.