Key Legal Bodies in Kurnool Remain Headless

Kurnool: Several key legal bodies in Kurnool, including the Lokayukta, AP State Human Rights Commission and the Electricity Regulatory Commission, remain without appointed heads. The tenures of the previous heads have ended and the state government is yet to nominate new officials, leaving these institutions without effective governance.

The AP State Human Rights Commission, initially headquartered in Hyderabad, was relocated to Kurnool following the state government’s decision to make the city a judicial capital. The previous government had appointed members to the Commission in 2021 after a two-year delay, filling the roles of chairperson, judicial member and non-judicial member. However, their terms ended in March 2024, leaving the Commission inactive in terms of addressing human rights issues since then.

The Lokayukta, which handles public complaints on corruption and misconduct in government bodies, was led by Justice P. Lakshmana Reddy until September 14, 2024. After his retirement, Upa Lokayukta P. Rajani has taken over interim responsibilities.

The Electricity Regulatory Commission, previously headed by Justice C.V. Nagarjuna Reddy, has also been without leadership after his term ended last month.

Despite the government’s initial commitment in 2019 to designate Kurnool as a judicial centre and systematically develop it as a legal hub, the delay in appointments has left these institutions unable to function fully and effectively. The absence of leadership has led to a backlog of complaints and unresolved issues, impacting citizens and organisations seeking recourse through these legal bodies.