The Andhra Pradesh High Court made harsh remarks regarding the Amaravati capital issue while hearing on decentralization of administration. The High Court questioned the state government over shifting the Executive Capital to Visakhapatnam, having spent thousands of crores in Amaravati.
The High Court said that the move violates the Indian Constitution and that no such situation had taken place anywhere in the country and made it clear that it would definitely intervene in such matters. It is interesting to see the judicature make such strong remarks during a trial. On the other hand, the AP Government held a Cabinet meeting at the same time.
Amaravati was declared the sole capital of Andhra Pradesh as per The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act 2014. Advocate Ambati Sudhakar Rao speaking on the issue made it clear in the High Court that there was no other option but to amend the law in order to change the capital, adding that the state government did not have the power to legislate in the case of the three capitals. Since decentralization and CRDA laws were completely different the case is being challenged in court.
The advocate brought these matters to the notice of the High Court as part of the daily hearings into the petitions which were filed by Amaravati farmers on matters related to the decentralization of capital and CRDA Repeal Act.
The AP High Court questioned the power of the Central and State Governments in determining the capital as the same isn’t specified in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act 2014 and the CRDA Repeal Act. Advocate Ambati said that the then Legislative Assembly had chosen Amaravati as the capital of Andhra Pradesh and that a gazette identifying the capital city area had also been issued.
However, when the High Court questioned the lawyer whether the Assembly has the power to alter its earlier decision, the lawyer said that the power granted by the Centre to the State to choose its capital under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act 2014, can be used only once.
