NEW DELHI: The Central government has approved the appointment of two judicial officers to the Andhra Pradesh High Court. This announcement was made by Union Minister of State for Law and Justice, Arjun Ram Meghwal, on X (formerly Twitter) today.
The Supreme Court Collegium recommended the appointment of six judicial officers as judges for the High Courts of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh during a meeting on January 11. This decision addresses existing vacancies, with Telangana having 15 unfilled positions and Andhra Pradesh 11, improving judicial capacity in both states.
Justice Guhanathan Narendar was appointed as Chief Justice of the Uttarakhand High Court on December 26, succeeding Justice Ritu Bahri. The oath-taking ceremony was held at Raj Bhawan, administered by Governor Lt Gen (retd) Gurmit Singh. Narendar has an extensive legal career and previously served in both Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh High Courts.
The Andhra Pradesh High Court ruled that a family cannot stop an adult woman from living with a same-sex partner. The decision came after a woman claimed her partner was forcibly held by her family. The court stressed the importance of individual freedom and the right to choose one’s partner, regardless of gender. This ruling reflects growing support for LGBTQ+ rights in India.
The Andhra Pradesh High Court upheld the right of a lesbian couple to live together, addressing a habeas corpus petition concerning one partner’s detainment by her father. The court emphasized that adults can make personal choices regarding relationships and ordered the parents not to interfere, affirming the couple’s right to their relationship.
The Supreme Court On December 9 addressed West Bengal’s petition against the Calcutta High Court’s annulment of OBC classification for 77 communities, mainly Muslim. Justice Gavai emphasized reservations cannot be religion-based. While Sibal defended the classification as socially rooted, Patwalia critiqued its implementation. The Court scheduled further hearings for January 2025.
On December 2, the Supreme Court temporarily released YSRCP social media in-charge Sajjala Bhargava Reddy, allowing him to approach the High Court regarding multiple FIRs alleging derogatory online posts about Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu. The court granted him two weeks of protection from arrest while emphasizing the importance of High Courts.
Justice S.V. Bhatti, born on May 6, 1962, assumed office as a Supreme Court Judge on July 14, 2023, following his career in law and judicial service, including roles in various High Courts. His elevation emphasizes regional representation, particularly from the Andhra Pradesh High Court. He will retire on May 5, 2027.
Justice P.K. Mishra, born on August 29, 1964, in Raigarh, Chhattisgarh, has had a distinguished legal career, beginning practice in 1984. He became Chief Justice of the Andhra Pradesh High Court in October 2021 and was elevated to the Supreme Court on May 19, 2023, to address under-representation from Chhattisgarh.
Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah, born on May 11, 1963, in Bihar, has held various legal positions since his graduation from Patna Law College in 1991. He served as Standing Counsel and Government Advocate for Bihar, became a judge at the Patna High Court in 2011, and was elevated to the Supreme Court on February 6, 2023, retiring in 2028.
