Justice C V Nagarjuna Reddy quits, court to crush "T"- advocates stir

By S A Ishaqui

Hyderabad, Sept 16: As the Andhra Pradesh High Court descended to chaos with the advocates coming to blows in courtrooms, a pained Justice C.V. Nagarjuna Reddy on Thursday offered to step down from his post.

Justice Nagarjuna Reddy has been taking flak for mishandling the violent agitation by Telangana advocates in the absence of Chief Justice Nisar Ahmad Kakru.

Sources said the Judge submitted his resignation letter to the Chief Justice Kakru, who reached the city after cutting short his leave on the advice of the Chief Justice of India. The meeting unanimously resolved to deal the situation with an iron hand.
Expressing anguish at the way the situation had developed; Justice Nagarjuna Reddy told the CJ in his letter that he wanted to quit the post. The judge also faxed his resignation toPresident.

In his resignation letter Justice Nagarjuna Reddy said he was disturbed at the happenings in the court in the last three days and pointed out that innocent advocates suffered from attacks by un-social elements.

It is perhaps the first time in the histroy of the AP High Court that a judge has offered to resign on the ground of mishandling the situation. Differences said to have cropped up among judges on Wednesday’s meeting on the issue of handling the situation following the indefinite fast by Telangana advocates.

Meanwhile, the full court decided to identify the persons involved in the obstruction of the proceedings of the court on September 14, 15 and 16 and take appropriate criminal and civil action. Miscreants who damaged the High Court’s property would also be punished.

It also constituted committee with five judges to frame rules to regulate the conduct of advocates in courts and resolved not to allow any kind of processions, dharnas, rallies and slogans on the court premises and to handle any violation by taking stern action.

The court has decided not allow any person after 6 pm into the High Court. It was also resolved to allow only identified counsels having cases in the court, and parties related to the cases as authorised in writing by their counsels.