Andhra High Court defers three-capitals petitions, says Amaravati capital status settled by law
A full Bench of the Andhra Pradesh High Court led by Chief Justice Lisa Gill has observed that pending petitions challenging the proposed "three capitals" have become infructuous following the grant of legal sanctity to Amaravati as the sole capital of Andhra Pradesh through an amendment to the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014. The Bench, comprising Justices Ninala Jayasurya and B.S. Bhanumathi, heard the batch of writ petitions on September 25, 2026.
The court posted pending matters for examination on November 20, taking note of the likelihood of appeals filed in the Supreme Court against the High Court's Amaravati judgment dated March 3, 2022, being heard on November 29. Advocate General Dammalapati Srinivas informed the court that the government had filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court in December 2024 expressing its commitment to complete infrastructure projects in Amaravati within three years, with works proceeding at a brisk pace. He urged that the writ petitions be closed after recording the facts.
Counsel for some petitioners argued that the State government should settle the issue by withdrawing the Special Leave Petition filed by the YSR Congress Party government against the High Court's adverse judgment on the legislations facilitating three capitals—the A.P. Capital Region Development Authority Repeal Act and the AP Decentralisation and Inclusive Development of All Regions Act, both of 2020.
