Amaravati Capital Row: Andhra Pradesh High Court Declares Three-Capitals Petitions Infructuous

The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Wednesday declared that petitions challenging the state government's proposed three-capitals model are infructuous, as Amaravati is now legally recognized as the sole capital of Andhra Pradesh. A bench led by Chief Justice Lisa Gill issued the ruling and posted the pending cases to November 20, setting the stage for further legal proceedings.

The decision comes amid a protracted legal battle over the state's capital, which intensified after the YSR Congress Party government proposed decentralizing governance across Amaravati, Visakhapatnam, and Kurnool. In 2022, the Supreme Court delivered a judgment on the Amaravati capital issue, which is now subject to appeals. The High Court's latest observation effectively acknowledges that the legislative framework establishing Amaravati as the capital renders the earlier petitions moot. The bench's decision to defer hearings to November 20 precedes the Supreme Court's likely hearing on November 29 of appeals against its 2022 verdict.

The ruling is expected to have significant implications for the state's governance and development plans, particularly for the Amaravati region, which has seen stalled infrastructure projects. It also sets the stage for the Supreme Court to clarify the legal status of the capital, potentially impacting future state policies. Stakeholders, including farmers who gave up land for the capital, are watching closely as the legal saga continues.