Contrasting moods of Telangana, AP advocates ahead of separate

A separate High Court notification for Andhra Pradesh brought cheers to Telangana advocates even as those belonging to the neighbouring state working here felt it was "unfair" to ask them to relocate in less than a week's time.

President Ram Nath Kovind Wednesday issued orders for a separate high court which would function from Amaravati, the new capital of AP, from January one.

As a mark of protest, advocates belonging to Andhra Pradesh boycotted cases in the Hyderabad High Court, which has had the jurisdiction over the two Telugu states since bifurcation of erstwhile Andhra Pradesh in 2014, Thursday.

President of the Andhra Pradesh High Court Advocates Association (APHCAA), K B Ramanna Dora said it would be very difficult for them to go "lock, stock and barrel" in less than a week to Amaravati where the new High Court is set to function.

"There is difficulty everywhere. As per the notification there shall be a separate high court from January one at Amaravati.

But there is no enough infrastructure there ( in Amaravati). Construction (of High Court) is not over. There should have been some time given. Is it possible for any human being to shift in a week's time? They should give us some breathing time," Dora told PTI.

Noting that they were not against shifting to Amaravati, he alleged that there was no "prior information" to the APHCAA on setting up new High Court for AP.

Dora recalled that they had submitted representations to the Centre saying they were willing to move to AP once the construction work for the court was completed.

On the other hand, Telangana advocates who have been demanding separate High Court for the country's youngest State are in a jubilant mood. President of the Telangana High Court Advocates Association, C Damodar Reddy said they held a cake-cutting ceremony marking the "victory for their struggle" for separate High Court.

He said there may be some teething problems initially for Andhra Pradesh High Court advocates but they would be overcome over a period of time.

According to sources, there are about three lakh cases currently pending in the Hyderabad High Court of which about 60 per cent belong to AP region.

About 1,600 employees were currently working in the court and options are being sought for their placement between AP and Telangana, they said.

"... the President hereby constitutes a separate High Court for the State of Andhra Pradesh, namely, the High Court of Andhra Pradesh, from the 1st day of January, 2019 with the principal seat of such High Court at Amaravati in the State of Andhra Pradesh.

the High Court of Judicature at Hyderabad shall become the High Court for the State of Telangana," the President said in his orders issued Wednesday.

Senior advocate and member of Bar Council of India N Ramchander Rao said they welcome the creation of a separate HC for AP.

"It is the long pending aspiration of Telangana advocates and people," Rao, a BJP MLC in Telangana, said.

He, however, expressed concerns that judicial officers working in Telangana may not get elevation to the HC until 2030 as per the Supreme Court's earlier Order.

There is a need for the review of this Apex Courts order, he said.