Protest in Kurnool over injustice done to Rayalaseema

Kurnool: The TD-led alliance government’s decision to shift legal institutions from Kurnool to Amaravati has met with strong opposition from the locals.

“The government is ignoring the region’s longstanding demand for a high court bench in Kurnool. We will start an agitation if the government moves ahead with its plan,” said senior advocate and social activist D Nagendranath.

The activist noted that TD chief and present chief minister Chandrababu Naidu had promised to establish a high court bench here. The YSRC government had planned to develop the backward Rayalaseema region by establishing institutions like the Lokayukta, the state human rights commission and the electricity regulatory commission, he pointed out.

Advocate MR Krishna said the decision to shift these legal bodies to Amaravati under the guise of centralization was flawed. This decision has eroded the locals’ confidence in getting a high court bench for Kurnool, he said.

Resident KM Sudhakar from C-Camp area, echoed these concerns. He stressed that the backward region needed support and encouragement from the state government. “The previous government's efforts to establish legal bodies and declare the city as the state’s judicial capital were aimed at regional development. However, the present government is not being helpful in this respect,” he said.

He also said the region had been neglected in matters like irrigation.

Notably, the Lokayukta and the state Human Rights Commissions began their operations in 2021 at the state guest house here before moving to their designated premises in the city. Since then, both institutions have gained popularity among the public.

Recently, the Lokayukta launched its website to allow people to lodge complaints and address other issues. However, the HRC is still in the process of updating its systems.

Industries minister TG Bharath had rejected speculations about a shift of the legal institutions from here to Amaravati and termed it baseless.