HISTORY OF DISTRICT MUNSIF’S COURT & BAR ASSOCIATION AT NARASARAOPET
- In 1892 the court of District Munsif was inaugurated in Narasaraopet after shifting the court from Karampudi. In the first instance it was located in a rented building situated opposite to Fort on Narasaraopet- Sateenapalli Road in which Vasavi Kanyakaparameswari Kalyana Mandapam is located at present
- In 1894 the District Munsif’s Court was shifted into a permanent building in the present Court complex in which at present the court of Principal Subordinate Judge is functioning. When the Subordinate Judge’s Court was inaugurated on 1-10-1949, it was located in the Government Building in which present the Mandal Praja Parishad Office is functioning. After the Sub-court was made permanent, the same was shifted into the building in which the court of Sub-Judge was functioning. District Munsif’s Court was shifted into permanent building in court complex in 1988.
- In 1958, Court of Judicial 1st class Magistrate was sanctioned when Judiciary was separated from Executive and the same was located in the Government building under the Banyan tree which at present State Excise Office is functioning. Late D. Narayana Swamy was the first Presiding officer of that Court who after retirement as District Judge got himself elected to Lok Sabha from Anantapur.
- In 1970 Second Additional District Munsif’s Court was sanctioned and the same functioned in a private rented building belonging to G.P. Mallaiah.
- Both the courts of 1st Additional and 2nd Additional District Munsif’s were shifted into the permanent building in court complex during 1982.
- Shri Justice Aavula Sambasiva Rao garu, the then Hon’ble Chief Justice of Andhra Pradesh laid foundation stone for the construction of New Court building in court complex on 19-111978 and the same was inaugurated by Shri Justice Alladi Kuppu Swamy the then Chief Justice of Andhra Pradesh on 23-01-1982. Only ground floor was constructed by then. Both the Courts of 1st Additional and 2nd Additional District Munsif’s were shifted into this new building.
- On 22-10-1981 the court of Judicial 2nd class Magistrate was upgraded into a court of 1st class Magistrate and the said court was renamed as III Additional Munsif Magistrate’s Court.
- In 1987 the as III Additional Munsif Magistrate’s Court was shifted to Chilakaluripet consequent to the transfer of the said court, the 1st Additional Munsif Magistrate was shifted into that building vacated by the as III Additional Munsif Magistrate’s Court.
- The court of Additional Subordinate Judge was shifted into the building vacated by the 1st Munsif Magistrate.
- Later in 1988, first floor was constructed on the new building and the court of Principal District Munsif was shifted into the 1st
- Presently the 2nd Additional district Munsif’s court is without an officer and it is said that the same is being shifted to Chilakaluripet.
- Shri Justice P. Ramachandra Raju Garu, Retired Judge of A.P. High court started his career as Judicial Officer (District Munsif) at Narasaraopet 1949.
- Shri Justice N.D. Patnaik Garu, Retired Judge of A.P. High court started his career as Judicial Officer (District Munsif) at Narasaraopet about 3 decades ago.
- Shri Justice Iyyapu Panduranga Rao Garu, Retired Judge of A.P. High court worked at Narasaraopet as Subordinate during 1970-1973.
- Shri Justice N.D. Patnaik Garu, Retired Judge of A.P. High court was student of Narasaraopet Municipal High School and a Native of Purushothapatnam, about 25 Kilo Meters from here and within the Jurisdiction of M.M.C Chilakaluripet.
Likewise, Our Bar Association was also formed in 1894 with 10 members, though the names of all members are not available, the name of two famous members are available.
Sarvashri Tadepalli Anjaneya Sastry and Kolavennu Viyyanna Panthulu were those two illustrious members and both of them came down from Bandar to Narasaraopet
Late Tadepalli Anjaneya Sastry’s son Tadepalli Sampoorna Lakshmi Narayana was member of this Bar and he was the Municipal Chairman of Narasaraopet Municipal Council and he was also the Government Pleader and his standing at bar was for more than 53 years and he was very quick learned mand and a known Sanskrit Scholar and his son Shri Tadepalli Anjaneya Sastry also practiced law at Narasaraopet for some time and later joined the services of South-Central Railway.
Late Kolavennu Viyyanna Panthulu’s son Kolavennu Rama Koteswara Rao garu was also a member of our Bar Association and Rama Koteswara Rao garu was a famous freedom fighter and he was the founder of editor of “TRIVENI” a famous journal and he was also elected to Madras Legislative Assembly.
Late Shri Kondabhotla Gopala Krishnaiah garu joined in Our Bar 1900 and had a brilliant career and his son Subrahmanya Sastry also practiced here.
Late Shri Angara Venkata Rao garu, was yet another member who practiced in the District Munsif’s Court till 1930 and his brother’s son Venkata Lakshmi Narayana Rao practiced more than 50 years. And late Venkata Lakshmi Narayana Rao son’s Madhusudhana Rao is also member of our Bar Association.
Late Panganmala Narasimha Rao garu was a famous criminal lawyer and he worked president of District Board for some time.
Late Majeti Sriramulu was known for his benevolence.
Late Nadimpalli Jagannadha Rao was a good writer. He authored the famous books entitled “ANDHRA MAHA SAMRAJYAM” and “AGE OF BHARATHA WAR” in English and he served Narasaraopet Municipal Council as its councilor till his demise and for the book “AGE OF BHARATHA WAR” he was conferred professor-ship by a University in France in those days.
His younger brother Nadimpalli Venkata Hanumantha Rao was novelist and wrote a novel by name “SAAHASIKA” and Late Nadimpalli Venkata Hanumantha Rao garu was Government Pleader at Narasaraopet from 1938 to 1962 and he served Narasaraopet Municipality as its Vice-Chairman while late Tadepalli Sampoorna Lakshmi Narayana was its Chairman and he was succeeded by Tadepalli Sampoorna Lakshmi Narayana garu as Government Pleader and he breather his last in 1971 of the court closing day after attending the annual day function and after practicing for more than 50 years.
Chavali Venkata Krishnaiah garu and Gade Simhachalam garu were two renowned members of our Bar Association who served as Chairman of Narasaraopet Municipal Council.
Late Bellamkonda Subba Rao gar was famous stage artist and became famous for hi role as “SRI KRISHNA” with moustache and he was popularly called as “MEESALA KRISHNUDU” and he was also member of our Bar Association.
Late Shri Nallapati Venkat Ramaiah Chowdary who practiced for more than 50 years of Narasaraopet was Ex-District Board President and Ex-member of Legislative Council in composite State of Madras and his son Lakshminarayana is also presently practicing an Advocate of Narasaraopet, District Courts and High Court of Andhra Pradesh also and Shri Venkateswarulu Chowdary’ brother-in-law and P.S.R. Krishnaiah is also practiced as member in our Bar Association.
Late Shri Kasu Brahmananda Reddy, Ex-Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Ex- Central Minister and Ex-Governor is also member of our Bar Association.
Late Shri Chapalamadugu Ramaiah Chowdary is also member of our Bar Association and he was elected to the Parliament and also to the A.P. Legislative Assembly.
Late Shri Pullela Dasaradha Ramaiah was the Ex-President of Guntur District Co-operative Marketing Society Limited and Ex-Secretary and correspondent of Chundu Ranganayakulu Engineering College.
Late Shri Kakumanu Suryanarayana Reddy was the President of Kasu Raghavamma Brahmananda Reddy College Committee and served as President of Narasaraopet co-operative Agricultural producers purchasing society limited and Secretary and Correspondent of Lion’s Aided Elementary School and also served as Secretary, Indian Red Cross Society besides being a member of ISCUS and his son Bala Hanumantha Reddy is a practicing Advocate.
Late Shri Gangineni Venkateswara Rao got elected to the A.P. Legislative Assembly from Vinukonda and he is also a good writer and his popular writing is PAMULUNITCHENALU.
Late Shri Yanamandra Sambasiva Sastry garu practiced for more than 50 years and served as Government Pleader for three terms and his sons, Mr. Y. Ramakrishna Sastry at Addanki and Mr. Y.V. Raghavulu at Narasaraopet are practicing law now.
Our illustrious members at present who have completed 50 years standing at Bar are Sarvashri Lanka Ramanadham garu who served as Government pleader for Endowments for three terms and standing counsel for Narasaraopet Municipal council for five terms and Jonnalagadda Venkata Subba Rao who served as Public Prosecutor of Asst. Sessions Judge’s courts and leading Criminal Lawyer.
Shri Lanka Ramanadham’s son Mr. L.L.N Sastry is also member of our Bar Association.
Our most renowned members who secured a position for themselves as the most earned legal practitioners and who are no more with us were Sarvashri Konidena Narayana Rao, Srigiriraju Ranga Rao, Srigiriraju Venkata Krishnayya, Sadhu Suryanarayana, Bodducherla Venkata Hanumantha Rao and his sons Brahamanandam and Ravindranath, Sistla Saakshi Sundara Somayajulu, Guntupalli Venkata Subba Rao, Muttanapalli Venkateswarulu, Telikepalli Veera Raghavaiah, Dharmavarapu Ramanadham, Muppalla Kotinarayana, Prathipati Venkata Subba Rao, Bhurugubanda Rama Rao, Medikonduri Venkateswarulu, Nagothu Innaiah, R.V. Appaiah Sastry, D. Venkata Reddy, G. Koteswara Rao, Bellamkonda Krishna Murthy, M.G. Krishna Reddy, R. Poornanandam P.V. R. Sarma, Pothuri Krishna Murthy, G. Subba Rao, Banda Rama Sastry, Ch.L. Kantha Rao, Ravella Lakshminarayana, C. Venkaiah Chowdary, Panguluri Anjaneyulu Chowdary.
Bodducherla Ravindranath served as Municipal Councilor and his son and Senior Most Advocate, Mr. Anil Kumar is member of our Bar Association.
Sarvashri J. V. Subba Rao, Ch. L. Kantha Rao, Katta Narapa Reddy, Kakumanu Pedda Peri Reddy and Madireddy Venkateswara Reddy served as councilors of Narasaraopet Municipality.
Kakumanu Pedda Peri Reddy also served as Chairman of Guntur District Library Authority and Commission Member Cum Chairman (Incharge) of Human Rights Commission of Andhra Pradesh
Members of our Bar Association have been selected to Judiciary and some of them retired as District Judges.
Sarvashri Moorthy Satyanarayana Gupta, Popuri Raghunadha Sastry, Chavali Avadhani, Rallabandi Visweswara Rao, D.S.R. Anjaneyulu, Sarvashri Kakumanu Uma Maheswara Rao, N. R.L Nageswara Ra, Sarvashri P.B.S. Charles, V.S.R. Avadhani, T. Chalapathi Rao, B. David Raju and P.V.S.N. Murthy, were selected as Retired as District Judges and High Court Judges
Sarvashri Vasi Reddy Ramalinga Prasad, Srigiriraju Anjaneyulu, Gude Hanumantha Rao and T. Ranga Rao has been selected as Assistant Public Prosecutors and they also retired as Senior A.P. P’s also.
Smt. Y Bala Saraswathi Madhusudhana Reddy goes on record as first lady member of this Bar Association
