In a progressive move following the recent district reorganization in Andhra Pradesh, the state government is gearing up to establish district courts in each of the newly formed districts.This development comes as a welcome relief for numerous bar associations, particularly those from the former East and West Godavari districts, who have long awaited this change, hoping it will alleviate the burden of transportation and other logistical challenges.
The AP High Court has issued a directive to the lower courts, mandating them to furnish a comprehensive report detailing the pending cases and their respective severities by October 13.Simultaneously, various bar associations are advocating for courts in their respective areas.
For instance, the Ramachandrapuram bar association has fervently pleaded for the establishment of an additional district court for the past two decades.In 2019, they formally submitted a representation to Chief Minister Jagan Reddy, urging the creation of such a court.Subsequently, the Honorable Chief Minister directed the state government to take action, earmarking ₹1.60 crore for the construction of the court building and the recruitment of 31 personnel, including a district judge.Unfortunately, due to the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, the courts remained closed for two years.
“The Ramachandrapuram court stands out as one of the courts grappling with a significant backlog of cases from the former district.Travelling to this court entails a 70-kilometer journey, making it challenging for litigants to attend proceedings promptly.Regrettably, this delay is undermining the merits of many cases,” remarked Sai Prasad, the general secretary of the bar association.
In response to the bar association’s representation, additional district courts have been sanctioned in Amalapuram, Pithapuram, and Peddapuram.During the tenure of the YSRC government, one such court was sanctioned, and it is imperative that these plans come to fruition,” emphasized Sai Prasad.
The bar association submitted a representation to the principal district judge in Rajamahendravaram on Tuesday, passionately advocating for the establishment of an additional district court in Ramachandrapuram.
Furthermore, the Kakinada bar association’s president, Visweswara Rao, asserted that specialized courts like SC, ST court, NDPS courts, etc., should be established in Kakinada.Muppalla Subbarao, an AP bar council member, echoed this sentiment, suggesting that courts such as the POCSO court and CID court be set up in Rajamahendravaram.
Former Bhimavaram bar association president Yeleti Yohan also weighed in, advocating for the establishment of a spectrum of specialized courts in Bhimavaram, including SC, ST court, NDPS court, POCSO court, additional sub-court, and a designated court.
This proactive step taken by the Andhra Pradesh government reflects a commitment to enhancing access to justice and streamlining legal processes, ultimately benefiting the citizens of the newly formed districts.
