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High Court

On the right bank of the River Musi stands one of the finest buildings of the city. This is the High Court with the magnificent view from the bridge. Twenty eight lakhs of rupees were spent on it. This has been mentioned in the inscription on the arch way. It houses the High Court of the state namely Osmania Adalath.

The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Friday rejected the contention of Satyam Computers founder B. Ramalinga Raju and his brother against being handed over to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).The Raju brothers, who had challenged the orders of the criminal courts on handing them over to the Central Bureau of Investigation for interrogation, failed to get relief from the High Court. Justice K. C. Bhanu rejected their contention that they can not be handed over to CBI.

It may be recalled that the criminal court had ordered CBI custody for the duo. They had filed a case in the High Court contending that they have been questioned by the local police and as per Supreme Court judgments they cannot be questioned again by the Central Bureau of Investigation.

Justice Bhanu drew a fine distinction and said that the agency had taken over the case and it cannot be said that the CBI could not have their custody especially in these circumstances  The High Court stands on the south bank of the River Musi. This is one of the finest buildings in the city, built in red and white stones in Saracenic style, by Nizam VII Mir Osman Ali Khan. The Plan of the High Court was drawn up by Shankar Lal of Jaipur and the local engineer who executed the design was Mehar Ali Fazil. The construction started on 15 April 1915 and was completed on 31 March 1919. On 20 April 1920 the High Court building was inaugurated by Nizam VII Mir Osman Ali Khan.

It is interesting to note that while digging the foundation for the High Court, ruins of the Qutb Shahi Palaces, namely Hina Mahal and Nadi Mahal were unearthed. The High Court looks beautiful and impressive from the Naya Pul Bridge at sunset.

After its construction, a silver model of the High Court with a silver key was presented to the Nizam VII Mir Osman Ali Khan by the Judiciary during the Silver Jubilee Celebrations in 1936. The facsimile of the buildings was perfectly carved in a thick sheet of silver weighing about 300 kg. The model is now in the Nizam's Museum in Purani Haveli.

The main building of the High Court was constructed in the year 1919 by the then Nizam’s Government accommodating Six Judges besides accommodation for the Office Staff, record rooms and Advocates’ Hall.

When the High Court of Andhra Pradesh was formed in 1956 as a consequence of States Reorganisatin Act, the Judges strength was increased to 12. The existing accommodation at that time was only inadequate to meet the requirements of the larger High Court and so the additional building was constructed in 1958-59. The entire office rooms, record rooms, chambers of advocates (42 in all) and the rooms for law officers were located in this building. The record rooms, Officer rooms in the main building were modified to provide chambers and Court Hall accommodation for 14 Judges.

By 1970, the institution of cases of the High Court has gone up to 35,000 as against 20,000 in 1958. The Judges strength had also risen from 14 to 21. To provide additional accommodation for Judges, Staff and Advocates and Law Officers, the third building was proposed and the work was completed in 1976. The Law Officers strength was increased from 8 to 18 by 1980 and the institution of cases had gone up to 55,593 cases. In 1979 a plan was drawn for the four storeyed Annexe building and due to lack of funds that could not be taken up. There are at present 20 Court Halls and 24 Chambers located in the High Court main building and Annexe buildings. The present building for which the foundation stone is being laid by the Hon’ble the Chief Justice will have 8 Court Halls and 8 Chamber for the Judges. Some of the Court Halls located in the Varandahs and in the Office rooms will be restored to their original position. The institution of cases had risen from 20,078 in 1958 to 1982,123 including miscellaneous cases in 1985. Now the pendency of cases in High Court as on 24 July 1987 are 84,855 (ie., 66,276 main cases + 18,579 miscellaneous cases). The Government of India is contemplating to rise the strength of the Judges of this High Court to 36 and in such case, more funds have to be released for the construction of Annexe buildings. After the completion of this building, the main building and Annexes buildings can locate 24 Court Halls and 26 Chambers.

Current Chief Justice and Justices of the High Court

THE HON'BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE SRI ANIL RAMESH DAVE
Justice T. Meena Kumari
Justice B.Prakash Rao
Justice D.S.R.Varma
Justice Ghulam Mohammed
Justice A.Gopal Reddy
Justice V.Eswaraiah
Justice G.Raghuram
Justice V.V.S. Rao
Justice C.Y.Somayajulu
Justice T.Ch.Surya Rao
Justice N.V.Ramana
Justice P.S.Narayana
Justice G.Rohini
Justice T.Gopala Krishna
Justice L.Narasimha Reddy
Justice G.Yethirajulu
Justice C.V.Ramulu
Justice R.Subhash Reddy
Justice K.C.Bhanu
Justice B.Seshasayana Reddy
Justice S.ASHOK KUMAR
Justice G.Chandraiah
Justice Ramesh Ranganathan
Justice P.Swaroop Reddy
Justice D.Apparao
Justice Bhavani Prasad Grandhi [1]
Justice G.V.Seethapathy
Justice Nooty. Ramamohana Rao
Justice C.V.Nagarjuna Reddy
Justice R.KANTHA RAO