AP govt, High Court should decide on shifting HC to Kurnool: Rijiju
This was in response to a query raised by YSR Congress Party MPs Kotagiri Sridhar and Chinta Anuradha in the Lok Sabha on the issue of moving the High Court to Kurnool.
By Newsmeter Network Published on 22 July 2022 2:58 PM GMT
Vijayawada: The proposal to shift the Andhra Pradesh High Court from Amaravati region to Kurnool in the Rayalaseema region is left to the AP state government and the High Court, said Union minister of law and justice Kiren Rijiju.
Mr. Rijiju, on Friday, said the Centre has received a proposal from the Andhra Pradesh government to shift the state High Court from Amaravati to Kurnool. This was in response to a query raised by YSR Congress Party MPs Kotagiri Sridhar and Chinta Anuradha in the Lok Sabha on the issue of moving the High Court to Kurnool.
The MPs asked the minister whether the Union government has received any proposal from the Andhra Pradesh government on shifting the principal seat of the High Court to Kurnool and whether the government is considering the request favourably.
The Union minister clarified that the decision to shift the High Court to Kurnool should be taken by the state government in consultation with the High Court. All the administrative expenses of the High Court should be borne by the state government and as a procedure, the state government and the High Court should come to a decision on shifting the High Court to Kurnool, he said. After that, the proposal should be sent to the Central government, he added.
The High Court of Andhra Pradesh has 2,35,617 cases pending before it as of 15 July 2022. Of the total cases, 42,374 have been pending for more than 10 years, Mr. Rijiju informed the Rajya Sabha.
Replying to YSRCP MP Pilli Subhash Chandra Bose, the minister said steps have been initiated to fill up the vacant posts of judges in the High Court. It currently has 24 judges against the sanctioned strength of 37.
Mr. Rijiju also informed the Parliament's Upper House that the Supreme Court Collegium's recommendation for the appointment of eight more judges is being processed. Appointments to vacant posts of judges is a continuous, integrated, and collaborative process between the Executive and the Judiciary, he added.
