The Andhra Pradesh High Court ruled on Friday that all petitions against the previous YSR Congress party government’s decision to establish three capitals have become irrelevant. This ruling follows the Parliament’s recent decision to officially designate Amaravati as the state capital. Sources familiar with the matter confirmed this development on Saturday.
High Court Ruling on Amaravati Capital Status
A three-member bench of the high court, consisting of Chief Justice Lisa Gill, Justice Nainala Jaya Surya, and Justice B S Bhanumathi, ruled that Amaravati is officially recognized as the state capital following an Act of Parliament. Consequently, any ongoing petitions in the courts that challenge the proposal for three capitals are now considered irrelevant.
The high court also directed the government to honour the agreements entered into with farmers under the land pooling scheme and undertake the development of Amaravati as the capital city. It also prescribed deadlines for completing basic infrastructure in the capital region, including roads, drinking water supply, drainage and electricity. On August 2, 2020, Amaravati farmers moved the state high court challenging the laws introduced by the YSRCP government. After an extensive hearing, the high court in its judgment on March 3, 2022, held that Amaravati was the sole capital of Andhra Pradesh. He said the state government had already filed an affidavit before the Supreme Court on December 10, 2024, stating that it would complete the infrastructure projects in Amaravati within three years.
Meanwhile, the high court bench also refused to fix deadlines for the present TDP-led coalition government to complete the infrastructure works in the state capital, as the Supreme Court had earlier stayed similar deadlines fixed by the high court.
The bench subsequently adjourned the hearing of the remaining matters relating to Amaravati to November 20, noting that the Supreme Court is expected to take a call on September 29 with regard to the special leave petition filed by the previous YSRCP government challenging the state high court’s verdict of March 3, 2022, declaring Amaravati as the sole capital of Andhra Pradesh. In July 2020, the then Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy got two separate laws passed in the state assembly – one repealing the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority (APCRDA) Act and second, decentralisation of administration law providing for three capitals.
