The petitioners pointed out that the region was included in united Maharashtra after it got an assurance from the then chief minister Yashwantrao Chavan that Nagpur City would be given the status of second capital and the `Nagpur Pact' would be implemented for the region's development. However, the Government neither implemented the pact in toto, nor has it given Nagpur the status of second capital.

As a result, there is a huge development backlog in the region, and hence, the government should take steps to set up a separate Vidarbha state, the petitioners argued. The High Court bench comprising Justices M B Ghodeshwar and Dilip Sinha, asked the Union Government, State Government and Vidarbha Statutory Board to filetheir submissions in this regard.

Advocate C P Sen appeared on behalf of the petitioners.