Just Ivory Towers? AP High Court Has Only 11 Judges In A 2.70 Lakh Sqft Facility; Still Lacks Broadband, Library

Even after a month of its inauguration, Andhra Pradesh High Court in Amravati still lacks the necessary facilities that are required to enable the work of lawyers, leading to inefficiencies in administration, reports Indian Express.

The Court, spread over 2.70-lakh square feet, is the only operational building in Andhra Pradesh’s new capital city of Amravati. Inaugurated on 1 January by CJI Ranjan Gogoi, the building has 16 court halls. However, a five-storeyed administrative block is yet to be built.

“There is no broadband here, there is no library. If we have to download a judgment for filing something we have to make separate arrangements. Cellphone coverage is also poor. Lawyers, clients, and clerks, everyone is suffering. We didn’t even have a Xerox facility. They temporarily set one up now,” complains K Y Krishna Sarma, an advocate in the city.

The High Court also has only a fraction of the sanctioned number of judges. Against the allocated strength of 37 judges, the high court functions with just 11.

“Judges are also facing work pressure. I am very thankful to the judges; they are very cooperative. We worked here also and Telangana. They are accommodating all the lawyers,” said another advocate.

Who Will Guard The Guardians?

In January, retired SC judge Justice J Chelameswar, slammed the creation of Andhra Pradesh High Court as a “flagrant violation” of the Constitution and has said that the Parliament was bypassed.

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