Common High Court to continue for Telangana, Andhra Pradesh until new court is established

HYDERABAD: While directing the Centre to allocate funds for the setting up of a separate High Court for AP, the Hyderabad High Court on Friday ruled that the Constitution did not permit having the High Court of Andhra Pradesh in Hyderabad, which is an integral part of Telangana.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Kalyan Jyoti Sengupta and Justice P.V. Sanjay Kumar made it clear that the existing common High Court would remain the High Court for AP and Telangana till the constitution of a separate High Court for AP.

The bench was delivering the final verdict on petitions by High Court advocate T. Dhangopal Rao, AP High Court Sadhana Committee and others, seeking creation of separate High Courts for the AP and Telangana.

While appreciating the sentiments of the people of Telangana and AP for wanting separate High Courts for both states, and the gesture extended by the Telangana government to provide logistic and infrastructural support for creation of the separate HC for AP at Hyderabad, the Bench held that the Telangana government had no role in creation of the HC for AP.

Justice Sengupta said, “It is for the AP government to provide infrastructure and the place to set up its own High Court. Just earmarking a certain area for the new High Court by the government is not enough, it has to indicate the place where it has to be located.”