Page 17 - HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH FIRST ANNUAL REPORT

SPEECH OF HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE C. PRAVEEN KUMAR,
ACTING CHIEF JUSTICE, HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH
IN THE FIRST COURT HALL AT 10.15 AM ON 2.1.2019 ON
THE FIRST DAY OF FUNCTIONING

1) Brother and Sister Judges, learned Advocate General for the State of Andhra Pradesh, Chairman, Bar
Council of Andhra Pradesh, Law Officers for the State of Andhra Pradesh, Public Prosecutor and Additional
Public Prosecutors for the State of A.P. Advocates, who have come all the way from Hyderabad and also to
the Advocates, who have been practicing here, a very warm and pleasant good morning to all.

2) The Andhra High Court was established first in the year 1954, after the formation of State of Andhra Pradesh.
History of establishment of a Court at Guntur commenced with the setting up of Fort St. George in Madras
in the year 1639 by the East India Company, which ultimately culminated into passing of 1861 Act, leading
to establishment of High Court of Judicature at Madras.

3) On 01.11.1956, the Hyderabad High Court and the Andhra High Court in Guntur was amalgamated and the
High Court of Andhra Pradesh came to be formed on the same day with 11 Judges. Sri Justice Koka Subba
Rao was the first Chief Justice of Andhra Pradesh High Court. A 11(eleven) member Bench was seated in
Court No.1 to begin its jurisprudential tryst with late Sri D.Narasa Raju, leading the Bar and Sri Justice Koka
Subba Rao, leading the Bench. Humbled by that very thought I along with 13 brother and sister Judges,
have assembled here today to start our journey in the new High Court, formed in the newly born State.

4) The inaugural of a new High Court is a momentous occasion for the State and its people, who look forward
for a new era in Administration of Justice.

5) We are informed that soil and water from 16,000 villages in the state, prominent seats of pilgrimage from
across the country were used for the foundation of the Capital and the responsibility becomes manifold.
We the Lawyers and Judges have a heavy responsibility to shoulder as the whole legal fraternity of the
country will observe the strides taken by us.

6) Being part of several different dynasties over centuries, Amaravathi has a culture which is rich and diverse.
7) Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism have been patronized with equal care. It enriched the culture of Amaravati
with enlightenment and rationality. This secular thought which found place here from ages now is fortified
by our Constitution.

8) Social thinker and play writer Gurajada Appa Rao said;
“Desham ante matti kadoy, Desham ante manushuloy”

This phrase was explained and interpreted in many ways one such to mean that a country is not a thing,
but a living organism whose parts are its citizens. Similarly, it has always been said that the constitution is
not just a text book of law, but a living organism. This living organism called the constitution should protect
the citizens of the country from all maladies.
9) This new High Court which has come into being in view of division of the State of Andhra Pradesh and
the consequent division of the erstwhile High Court of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, has to revamp its
philosophy to address the aspirations of the State of Andhra Pradesh and to uphold the democratic polity

Annual Report - High Court of Andhra Pradesh 17