The Andhra Pradesh government has initiated a significant review of its approach to legal disputes with the first meeting of a newly formed cabinet sub-committee. The panel, tasked with examining the proposed State Litigation Policy–2025, convened on Monday at the Velagapudi secretariat in Amaravati.
Focus on Reducing Unnecessary Legal Battles
Ministers and senior officials from the law department engaged in detailed deliberations with a clear objective: to drastically cut down on avoidable litigation and strengthen the state's justice delivery framework. The government is keen on easing the immense burden currently placed on the courts.
Leading the discussions, Law and Justice Minister NMD Farooq stated that the administration is actively examining wide-ranging administrative reforms. The goal is to prevent needless lawsuits from being filed in the first place. He emphasized several critical areas for improvement, including the fair and well-considered filing of appeals, proactive case management, and the elimination of procedural delays that hamper governance efficiency.
High-Level Participation and Key Directives
The high-profile meeting saw the attendance of Revenue Minister Angani Satya Prasad, Civil Supplies Minister Nadendla Manohar, and Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav. The formation of this sub-committee is a central part of the state government's broader initiative to decrease the volume of court cases involving various government departments. This effort is closely tied to ensuring greater transparency, accountability, and timely legal responses from the administration.
During the session, ministers reviewed the key provisions of the draft State Litigation Policy–2025, focusing heavily on institutional reforms and fostering coordinated decision-making across departments. A major point of consensus was the need to vigorously promote Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms.
Emphasis was placed on leveraging platforms like Lok Adalats and mediation centres. These avenues are seen as vital for providing quicker, more effective, and less adversarial solutions to disputes, thereby avoiding prolonged and costly litigation.
Studying Best Practices and Next Steps
To ensure the new policy is robust and effective, Civil Supplies Minister Nadendla Manohar issued specific instructions. He directed Law Secretary Pratibha Devi to compile and present detailed information on all pending cases across government departments before the next meeting. This data will be crucial for understanding the scale and nature of existing litigation.
Furthermore, Minister Manohar proposed looking beyond state borders for inspiration. He suggested a thorough study of the litigation policies implemented by other states, notably Gujarat and Karnataka, to identify and adopt proven best practices that have successfully reduced legal burdens elsewhere.
The meeting marks a proactive step by the Andhra Pradesh government to streamline its legal affairs, improve governance, and ultimately provide faster justice to its citizens by resolving disputes efficiently.
