Justice Reddy quits, court to crush T-stir

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. Fellow judges criticised him when they met on Wednesday to take stock of the situation in the wake of the indefinite fast by Telangana advocates demanding regional quota in postings.

Sources said the Judge submitted his resignation letter in the full court meeting called by 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 that he wanted to quit the post and requested that his resignation be forwarded to the President. However, Justice Kakru did not accept the resignation and assured he would look into the matter.

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 anti-social elements.

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.