Andhra Pradesh: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy had introduced the bill that originally proposed to establish three capitals in the state namely Visakhaptanam, Amaravati and Kurnool which will serve as Executive, Administration and Judicial Capitals respectively. There have been widespread rejections and protests against the decision of the CM. Meanwhile all the works at Amaravati came to standstill and people have been cursing at the decision.
Andhra Pradesh
On November 22, the state legislative assembly has passed a Bill to repeal the controversial AP Decentralisation and Inclusive Development of All Regions Act, 2020, that was intended to establish three capitals for the state. The 2020 Act was being repealed to protect the larger interests of people. “Our intention of a decentralised development of the state has been twisted, distorted and a misinformation launched. Also, legal hurdles were created and court cases filed,” the CM said.
In the same breath, Jagan told the assembly that his government would bring a “comprehensive, complete and better” Decentralisation Bill. There has been no timeframe announced for this and what would be done to come out with the “better” bill has also not been chalked out. It was an announcement to just withdraw the existing bill and Amaravati will continue to be the capital of AP for time being.
But it looks like the very idea of three capitals has been now shelved! The state government’s decision to clear the proposal for construction of a new building for AP High Court in Amaravati may be an indication that Jagan is thinking of making it the state’s judicial capital. If this is the thought of the CM, what about Kurnool?
Chief Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra laid the foundation stone for the construction of additional building for the High Court. The new building would come up on the north side of the present complex in three acres. Jagan government has granted Rs 33.5 crore to construct the additional building in Amaravati, where the High Court is functioning now. The shifting of the High Court to Kurnool could have been a long and tedious process involving the nod of the Union government, the Supreme Court and the President of India.
According to sources in CMO, the CM was considering the proposal to keep the High Court in Amarvati and make it the judicial capital, shift the assembly to Kurnool and make it the legislative capital, while shifting the secretariat to Viskhapatnam as his plan for three capitals! But political analysts say that Jagan was slowly shelving the plans of three capitals and making Amaravati has the only capital!