Telangana High Court

History of the judiciary

The court during the Nizam era was known as Adalatul Aaliya Osmania (Higher court of Osman Ali Khan) and on November 5, 1956, after Andhra Pradesh was formed under the States Reorganisation Act 1956 it was renamed as ‘High Court of Andhra Pradesh’. On 1 January 2019, the High Court was bifurcated into Andhra Pradesh High Court and Telangana High Court after the formation of the state of Telangana.

History of the High Court building

The High Court building today stands on the south bank of the River Musi. The court building built in red and white stones in Indo-Saracenic style, is one of the finest buildings in the city. The construction was started under Nizam VII Mir Osman Ali Khan, then ruler of Hyderabad.

The High Court functioned from five different locations, before the present location was finalised. The court was earlier located at Pathergatti. In 1909 it was shifted to the residence of Nawab Sir Asman Jah. Later in 1912, the court was shifted to Public Gardens and within 4 months it was once again shifted to the residence of Nawab Nawab Salar Jung Bahadur, at Chatta Bazaar. In 1914, the court was once again shifted to the residence of Nawab Sartaj Jung at Saifabad. During this period the construction of the present building was started and the court shifted to its new location in 1919. The building could accommodate six judges besides accommodation for the office staff, record rooms, and advocates' hall. As number of judges increased a second building was built in 1958 and later in 1978, third building was added. In 2023, it was proposed to shift the court to a new building to be constructed at Rajendranagar.

The plan of the High Court was drawn up by Shankar Lal of Jaipur and the local engineer who executed the design was Mehar Ali Fazil. Its chief engineer was Nawab Khan Bahadur Mirza Akbar Baig. The High Court was built on the ruins of the Qutb Shahi palaces, Hina Mahal and Nadi Mahal. The construction started on 15 April 1915 and was completed on 31 March 1919. On 20 April 1920, the high court building was inaugurated by the seventh Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan.

In 1944, on the occasion of the silver jubilee celebrations a silver model of the high court weighing about 300 kg was presented to the Nizam VII Mir Osman Ali Khan by the judiciary. The model is now in the Nizam's Museum in Purani Haveli.

The High Court building has been included in the list of heritage structures compiled by INTACH. World Monuments Fund has included the building in 2025 World Monuments Watch.

After the formation of Andhra Pradesh

When the High Court of Andhra Pradesh was formed in 1956 as a consequence of States Reorganisation Act, the number of judges was increased to 12. The existing accommodation was inadequate to meet the requirements of the larger High Court and so the additional building was constructed in 1958–59. The entire office rooms, record rooms, chambers of advocates (42 in all) and the rooms for law officers were located in this building. The record rooms, Officer rooms in the main building were modified to provide chambers and Court Hall accommodation for 14 Judges.

Construction of Annexe

By 1970, the institution of cases of the High Court has gone up to 35,000 as against 20,000 in 1958. The number of judges increased from 14 to 32. To provide additional accommodation for judges, staff, advocates and law officers, the third building was proposed and the work was completed in 1976. The law officers strength was increased from 8 to 18 by 1980 and the institution of cases had gone up to 55,593 cases. In 1979 a plan was drawn for the four-storey annexe building and due to lack of funds that could not be taken up. There are currently 32 court halls and 38 chambers located in the High Court main building and annexe buildings. The present building for which the foundation stone is being laid by the Chief Justice will have eight court halls and eight chambers for the judges. Some of the court halls located in the verandahs and in the office rooms will be restored to their original position. The institution of cases had risen from 20,078 from 1958 to 1982, 123 including miscellaneous cases in 1985. The pending cases in the High Court as on 24 July 1987 was 84,855 (i.e., 66,276 main cases + 18,579 miscellaneous cases). After the completion of this building, the main building and annexes buildings can locate 32 court halls and 38 chambers.

2009 Major fire

On 31 August 2009 a major accidental fire broke out through the building reportedly causing severe damage to the library housing rare England law reports, Privy Council journals and a life-size portrait of the Nizam and portraits of judges. However, the records of the court are reportedly safe. The structural integrity of the building also may have been compromised.

The Judges

The Telangana High Court sits at Hyderabad and has jurisdiction over the state of Telangana. It may have a maximum of 42 judges of which 32 may be permanently appointed and 10 may be additionally appointed. Currently, it has 29 judges.

Judges of the Telangana High Court Serving on Transfer in Other Courts

Judges elevated as Chief Justice

This sections contains list of only those judges elevated as chief justices whose parent high court is Telangana. This includes those judges who, at the time of appointment as chief justice, may not be serving in Telangana High Court but this list does not include judges who at the time of appointment as chief justice were serving in Telangana High Court but does not have Telangana as their Parent High Court. ;Key

• Resigned
• Elevated to Supreme Court

From erstwhile Undivided Andhra Pradesh High Court

Judges elevated to Supreme Court

This section includes the list of only those judges whose parent high court was Telangana. This includes those judges who, at the time of elevation to Supreme Court of India, may not be serving in Telangana High Court but this list does not include judges who at the time of elevation were serving in Telangana High Court but does not have Telangana as their Parent High Court. ;Key

• Resigned
• Died in office

From erstwhile Undivided Andhra Pradesh High Court

Chief Justices

Present Registrars of High Court

1. Registrar General – E. Tirumala Devi
2. Registrar (Judicial I) – Sri Sura Srinivas Reddy
3. Registrar (Judicial II)-K Gangadhara rao
4. Registrar (Administration) – V. Bala Bhaskar Rao
5. Registrar (I.T.)-cum-Central Project Coordinator (IT & E-Committee related) – T Venkateswara Rao
6. Registrar (Vigilance) – E. Tirumala Devi
7. Registrar (Management)-V Ramesh
8. Registrar (Protocol)-T Venkateswara Rao
9. District Judge (Enquiries)
10. Registrar (Recruitment) – Sri Sura Srinivas Reddy

Present unit heads

1. Adilabad – M. R. Sunitha
2. Karimnagar – B. Prathima
3. Khammam – P Chandrashekara Prasad
4. Mahabubnagar -S Premavathi
5. Medak – B Papi Reddy
6. Nalgonda – S Jagjeevan Kumar
7. Nizamabad -Kunchala Suneetha
8. Rangareddy – R Tirupathi
9. Warangal – Narsing Rao Nandikonda
10. Hyderabad-City Civil Court – Renuka Yara
11. Hyderabad-City Small Causes Court -V B Nirmala Geethamba
12. Hyderabad-Metropolitan Sessions Court – E Tirumala Devi
13. Hyderabad – Principal CBI – Ch. Ramesh Babu

References

References

1. "TSHC - High Court for the State of Telangana - History {{!}} Official Website of e-Committee, Supreme Court of India {{!}} India".
2. "About Us".
3. Today, Telangana. (2022-07-22). "'27 Judges working in Telangana HC against sanctioned strength of 42'".
4. "Chief Justice of India Approves Increase in Number of Judges to 42 from 24 in Telangana High Court". The Frontline.
5. "Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh sworn in as Chief Justice of Telangana High Court". The Hindu.
6. "Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh, Chief Justice of Telangana HC". The Deccan Chronicle.
7. (5 January 2024). "Telangana Govt allots 100 acre land of agri and horticulture varsities for construction of new High Court Building Complex". The Hindu.
8. (2019-04-20). "Hyderabad high court building turns 100 years old". [[Deccan Chronicle]].
9. (2018-12-26). "Andhra Pradesh and Telangana to have separate HCs". The Hindu.
10. (2019-04-20). "As Hyderabad High Court turns 100, city historians recall rich legacy".
11. (2023-12-15). "New Telanagana HC building at Rajendranagar". [[The New Indian Express]].
12. "About Us".
13. Richi, Priyanka. (2019-04-20). "As Hyderabad High Court turns 100, city historians recall rich legacy". [[The News Minute]].
14. Banerjee, Mrittika. (2025-01-16). "Hyderabad's Heritage Sites Make it to 2025 World Monuments Watchlist". [[Deccan Chronicle]].
15. "HC up in flames".
16. "India News: Today's latest updates and breaking news from India, Live India News".
17. "HON'BLE JUDGES PROFILE".
18. "High Court for the State of Telangana".
19. "High Court for the State of Telangana".
20. "High Court of Andhra Pradesh".
21. "Justice P. Jaganmohan Reddy {{!}} Supreme Court of India {{!}} India".
22. "Justice P. Jaganmohan Reddy {{!}} Supreme Court of India {{!}} India".
23. "Justice R.Subhash Reddy {{!}} Supreme Court of India {{!}} India".
24. "Justice R.Subhash Reddy {{!}} Supreme Court of India {{!}} India".