Among the litany of complaints against the State’s legal set-up, the foremost is that neither the Advocate General nor his team members are appearing for court cases as scheduled, even in key revenue matters involving significant financial stakes.
Published May 15, 2025 | 4:27 PM ⚊ Updated May 24, 2025 | 7:52 PM
There also appears to be friction within the government’s legal team.
Synopsis: Judges of the Andhra Pradesh High Court are reportedly dissatisfied with the state government’s legal team over repeated absences, delays, and poor representation in important cases. The matter has reached Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and IT Minister Nara Lokesh. Additionally, there’s been criticism about excessive outsourcing of legal work despite appointed prosecutors, and a failure to safeguard government interests.
Judges of the Andhra Pradesh High Court are displeased with the functioning of the State Government’s legal machinery for a variety of reasons.
The primary concern appears to be that the lackadaisical approach of the legal team is hampering the day-to-day functioning of the courts, leading to inordinate and undesirable delays in dealing with pending matters.
Highly placed sources told South First that the dissatisfaction of the judges has reached the ears of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Information Technology Minister Nara Lokesh, who is regarded as the number two in the government.
The State’s legal set-up – comprising government pleaders and public prosecutors – functions under the aegis and guidance of the Office of the Advocate General.
The Advocate General is senior lawyer Dammalapati Srinivas, a long-time counsel and close associate of the Chief Minister and the Telugu Desam Party.
Among the litany of complaints against the State’s legal set-up, the foremost is that neither the Advocate General nor his team members are appearing for court cases as scheduled, even in key revenue matters involving significant financial stakes.
Detractors allege that this may be a deliberate strategy to “frustrate” private litigants in disputes with the government.
Adjournments are reportedly being sought without valid reasons, particularly in cases concerning assigned lands. As a result, the government is said to be facing adverse judgments in several matters.
Furthermore, there are allegations that little effort is being made to protect the interests of the government.
For instance, accused individuals in a red sanders smuggling case were granted bail, allegedly because the concerned public prosecutors failed to oppose the plea strongly enough.
Despite the State having already appointed public prosecutors and assistant public prosecutors, senior counsel from Delhi and elsewhere are being engaged, even for cases that could ordinarily be handled by government-appointed lawyers.
The government has reportedly spent several crores on such senior advocates, in many cases for simply seeking adjournments or filing counters – raising questions about the competence of the existing legal set-up.
Notably, State-appointed prosecutors have also claimed fees for the same matters.
It is customary for matters in the First Court to be handled by the Advocate General personally.
However, special government pleaders attached to the Advocate General’s office are said to be appearing instead.
This is seen as detrimental, especially in public interest litigations (PILs) involving issues such as the environment and urban planning, where courts are more likely to pass sweeping orders.
There also appears to be friction within the government’s legal team.
The government had appointed E Sambasiva Pratap as Additional Advocate General as part of the understanding between the alliance partners – the Telugu Desam and the Jana Sena.
However, the Jana Sena is reportedly dissatisfied, as its share of other legal appointments – such as government pleaders – has not materialised.
Sources in the government told South First that they expect the Advocate General, given his vast experience, to look into the lacunae and take appropriate measures.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
