Tue May 13 19:59:26 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary and rewritten news article based on the provided text:

**Summary:**

The Andhra Pradesh government is moving forward with establishing a High Court Bench in Kurnool, following a unanimous resolution passed in November 2024. This move is welcomed by the Rayalaseema region, particularly the legal community, who felt betrayed by the previous government’s unfulfilled promise of making Kurnool the judicial capital. The new bench aims to decentralize judicial administration, as a significant portion of the state’s High Court cases originate from Rayalaseema. The move is expected to boost the region’s economy and bring justice closer to the people. Meanwhile, lawyers in Visakhapatnam are renewing their long-standing demand for a High Court Bench in their city as well. Similar benches exist in other states of India. The current NDA government is expected to benefit politically by completing the Kurnool project.

**News Article:**

**Andhra Pradesh Expedites High Court Bench in Kurnool, Sparking Hopes and Demands Across the State**

**Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh – May 14, 2025** – The Andhra Pradesh government has announced significant progress in establishing a High Court Bench in Kurnool, a move widely celebrated by residents of the Rayalaseema region and seen as a critical step towards decentralized judicial administration. Buildings have already been identified to house 15 judges.

The announcement follows a unanimous resolution passed by the State Assembly in November 2024, committing to the establishment of the bench. It addresses long-standing grievances within the Rayalaseema legal community, which felt let down by the previous YSR Congress Party government’s stalled proposal to make Kurnool the state’s judicial capital. That proposal was seen by many as a ploy to derail the Amaravati project.

“This is a significant moment for Rayalaseema,” said a local lawyer. “For too long, our citizens have had to travel long distances to Amaravati for judicial matters. This bench will bring justice closer to the people.”

The Kurnool bench is expected to handle approximately 33% of all cases originating from the four districts comprising the Rayalaseema region (Kurnool, Kadapa, Anantapur, and Chittoor). Beyond easing access to justice, officials anticipate that the establishment of the bench will stimulate commercial activity, bolster the hospitality sector, and enhance tourism in the region. The presence of judges, government officials, and visiting lawyers is expected to drive economic growth.

However, the move has also reignited calls for a similar High Court Bench in Visakhapatnam. Lawyers from the north Andhra region have been advocating for a bench since 1993, citing the presence of several prominent law schools, including Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University, the Andhra University College of Law, and the GITAM School of Law, and a large bar association. The Visakhapatnam Bar Association has more than 5,000 advocates, including 1,200 women.

“Visakhapatnam is a major hub, and its residents deserve easier access to the High Court,” said an advocate from Visakhapatnam. “We will continue to advocate for a bench in our city.”

The Andhra Pradesh government has not yet commented on the possibility of a Visakhapatnam bench. However, legal experts point to the examples of Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh, which have multiple High Court Benches, as potential models.

Political analysts suggest that the successful implementation of the Kurnool High Court Bench project could be a significant win for the current NDA government, especially in a region where the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and its allies made significant gains in the last election. Fulfilling this promise is seen as a way to solidify their position in the region.

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