Justice K. Manmadha Rao is set to be transferred from the Andhra Pradesh High Court to the Karnataka High Court following a Supreme Court Collegium recommendation.
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ANDHRA PRADESH: The Supreme Court Collegium has recommended the transfer of Justice Kumbhajadala Manmadha Rao from the Andhra Pradesh High Court to the Karnataka High Court, as part of a broader initiative aimed at enhancing inclusivity and diversity across the higher judiciary. This decision was arrived at during two Collegium meetings held on April 15 and April 19, 2025.
In a statement issued on the official website of the Supreme Court, the Collegium noted,
“With a view to infuse inclusivity and diversity at the level of High Courts and to strengthen the quality of administration of justice, the Supreme Court Collegium in its meetings held on 15th April, 2025 and 19th April, 2025 has recommended transfer of the following Judges of High Court.”
Justice Rao brings over three decades of legal experience to his new role. He enrolled as an advocate with the Bar Council of Andhra Pradesh on June 25, 1991, beginning his legal career under the mentorship of advocate Sri Nagisetty Mohan Das in Ongole. He later commenced independent practice in Kandukur, where he also took on a leadership role as Secretary of the local Bar Association.
In 1999, Justice Rao shifted his practice to the Andhra Pradesh High Court at Hyderabad, where he developed a specialization in revenue, excise, and enforcement-related matters. His notable assignments included serving as Senior Standing Counsel for the Central Board of Excise and Customs from 2008 to 2016, and as Special Public Prosecutor/Standing Counsel for the Enforcement Directorate from 2016 to 2020 in Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) cases.
He also represented the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) in matters under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS), appearing before designated courts as well as the High Courts at Hyderabad and Amravati.
Justice Rao was elevated to the bench of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh and sworn in as a judge on December 8, 2021.
The Karnataka High Court, where Justice Rao is set to be transferred, has a sanctioned strength of 62 judges but is presently functioning with only 50 judges, pointing to a shortfall in judicial capacity.
As part of the same resolution, the Collegium has also recommended the transfer of four sitting judges of the Karnataka High Court to other High Courts, a move that reflects the Collegium’s strategic reshuffling of judicial appointments to address regional imbalances and enhance the overall efficiency of the judicial system.
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