“Honour Telangana’s Legal Talent”: Advocates Rally at High Court Over Judgeship Appointments

(By Syed Ali Taher Abedi)

Hyderabad, June 17: In a significant show of unity and assertion of regional representation within the higher judiciary, the Telangana High Court Advocates’ Association on Wednesday staged a protest at Gate No. 6 of the High Court premises, urging the Collegium to consider advocates of Telangana origin for elevation to the Bench.

The demonstration, organized pursuant to a resolution unanimously adopted by the General Body of the Association on June 15, witnessed the participation of a large number of advocates who gathered to press what they described as a long-standing and legitimate demand for equitable representation of Telangana lawyers in appointments to the High Court.

Leading the protest was S. Surender Reddy, President of the Telangana High Court Advocates’ Association, who, along with office-bearers and senior members of the Bar, appealed to the Hon’ble Chief Justice for the State of Telangana and the other Hon’ble Collegium members to give due consideration to advocates having their roots in Telangana while recommending names for judicial elevation.

The protest reflected growing sentiment within sections of the legal fraternity that the aspirations and contributions of Telangana advocates deserve greater recognition in the process of appointments to the constitutional courts.

Participants asserted that the issue transcends individual claims and concerns the broader question of representation, inclusivity, and acknowledgment of the legal talent nurtured within the State.

Addressing the gathering, members of the Association emphasized that advocates from Telangana have played a pivotal role in the development of the State’s legal institutions and have consistently contributed to the administration of justice.

They urged the Collegium to honour the sentiments of the Telangana Bar and ensure that deserving advocates from the region receive adequate opportunities for elevation to the Bench.

The protest was attended by Association office-bearers including D.L. Pandu, Vice-President; P. Shravan Kumar Goud, Secretary; P. Krishna Keertana, Joint Secretary Balaji Banoth, Treasurer; and Vishnu Vardhan Jayasurya, Sports and Cultural Secretary.

Senior Advocates Gandra Mohan Rao and V. Raghunath also joined the demonstration, lending their support to the cause.

Committee members Konda Reddy Jakka, Rukmini Pallela, Shilpa Gelli, Bhargavi Kavali, Poolsingh Naik Ramavath, and Ravi Ponampelli, along with scores of advocates and members of the Association, participated in the programme and expressed solidarity with the resolution adopted by the General Body.

The gathering remained peaceful but carried a strong symbolic message, underscoring the Bar’s expectation that the process of judicial appointments should reflect not only merit and integrity but also the aspirations of the legal community that has emerged from Telangana following the State’s formation.

The development assumes significance at a time when discussions surrounding judicial appointments, representation at the constitutional level, and diversity within the higher judiciary continue to occupy centre stage in legal and public discourse.

The protest marks one of the most visible expressions of sentiment from the Telangana Bar in recent years, with advocates hoping that their collective voice will resonate within the corridors of judicial decision-making.