In a significant judicial development, the Central Government has officially confirmed the permanent appointments of two additional judges from the Andhra Pradesh High Court. The announcement was made by Union Minister of State for Law and Justice, Arjun Ram Meghwal, on X (formerly Twitter) this Wednesday.
The judges, Justice Venkata Jyothirmai Pratapa and Justice Venuthurumalli Gopala Krishna Rao, have been elevated following an evaluation process. The decision came after the Supreme Court Collegium’s recommendation on August 13, which was supported by earlier recommendations from the High Court’s own Collegium on May 16.
The process saw a noteworthy procedural development, as the Supreme Court Collegium moved forward with the appointments despite not receiving feedback from the Chief Minister and the Governor of Andhra Pradesh within the stipulated timeframe. According to the Collegium’s statement, the lack of response was interpreted as an absence of objections to the proposed appointments.
Further consultations were conducted with judges of the Supreme Court who are knowledgeable about the workings of the Andhra Pradesh High Court. Their agreement on the suitability of both judges for permanent positions reinforced the Collegium’s decision.
The confirmation of Justice Pratapa and Justice Rao as permanent judges marks a pivotal step in ensuring the stability and capacity of the judiciary in Andhra Pradesh.
