Page 61 - HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH FIRST ANNUAL REPORT

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DISTRICT JUDICIARY – IMPORTANT ROLE

IN THE ADMINISTRATION

DISTRICT COURTS - ORGANIZATION, FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES

The District Judge is the head of the District Judiciary. Each district is having one Principal District Court and
Additional District Courts. In Krishna and Visakhapatnam Districts, there are Metropolitan Sessions Courts
headed by a Metropolitan Sessions Judge.

The District Judiciary functions under a three-tier system. Below the District Judge, there are Civil Judges
(Senior Division) Cum Asst. Sessions Judges and Civil Judges (Junior Division) Cum Judical Magistrate of
First Class Courts on the civil side and on the criminal side. When the District Court hears criminal matters, it
is known as District Sessions Court. Apart from the above, there are Family Courts, Special Courts under the
Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, CBI Courts, ACB Courts, Land Reforms
Appellate Tribunals, and Industrial Tribunals headed by Presiding Officers of the cadre of District Judge.

The Principal District Judge is the head of both the judicial and administrative wings of the District judiciary. The
administrative side of the District Court is looked after by the Administrative Officer who is assisted by Superintendents,
Senior Assistants, Junior Assistants, Typists, Personal Assistants, Field Assistants, Attenders, etc.

The administrative side of the Senior Civil Judge’s Court is looked after by the Superintendent assisted by
Senior Assistants, Junior Assistants, Typists, Copyists, etc.

The administrative side of the Junior Civil Judge’s Court is looked after by the Superintendent assisted by
Senior Assistants, Junior Assistants, Typists, Copyists, etc.

The District Court exercises both original and appellate jurisdiction. The original jurisdiction includes the
entertainment of original suits where the value of the suit is more than Rs.50,00,000/-, petitions in motor accidents
cases, petitions in respect of Special Acts etc. The appellate jurisdiction includes the hearing of appeals both on
the civil side and criminal side. The District Judge hears appeals in all civil matters where the subject matter of the
appeal is less than Rs.50,00,000/- and in criminal cases where the punishment imposed is less than seven years.
The District Court also exercises revisional jurisdiction in criminal cases under Section 399 Cr.P.C.

The Civil Judge’s Court (Senior Division) exercises original jurisdiction. As per the Civil Courts Act, on its
original side, the Civil Judge (Senior Division) hears all original suits, the value of which is above Rs.20,00,000/-
and upto Rs.50,00,000/- While sitting on the criminal side, the Assistant Sessions Court hears all cases as
per the schedule to the Code of Criminal Procedure. An Assistant Sessions Judge can impose a sentence of
imprisonment upto 10 years and fine.
A Chief Judicial Magistrate can impose a sentence of imprisonment upto seven years.

The Civil Judge’s Court (Junior Division) exercises only original jurisdiction. It hears all petitions and original suits
of the value below Rs.20,00,000/-. A Judicial Magistrate of First Class can impose a sentence of imprisonment
upto three years and fine upto Rs 10,000/.

Annual Report - High Court of Andhra Pradesh 61