Several Legal, Regulatory Bodies in AP, Including APHRC, Without Heads

Kurnool: Various statutory and regulatory bodies, including the Lokayukta in Kurnool, AP Human Rights Commission (APHRC) and AP Electricity Regulatory Commission (APERC), have been functioning without heads for several months. The same is the case with Child Welfare Committees (CWCs) and Juvenile Justice Boards (JJBs) not only in Kurnool district but across the state.

APSHRC, initially headquartered in Hyderabad, had shifted to Kurnool after the previous YSRC government designated the city as the judicial capital. The government appointed the president, one judicial member and one non-judicial member in 2021 after a two-year delay. However, their terms ended in March 2024. Although the state government has issued notification for new appointments in December 2024, the selection process has not been completed yet.

The commission has been ineffective in addressing human rights issues such as harassment, police excesses, or other human rights violations.

Despite having no operational responsibilities, APHRC employees continue to receive salaries and reportedly enjoy a five-day workweek, although no such mandate has been issued by the government. This situation also draws criticism from other wings of the government.

Interestingly, during the YSRC regime, TD senior leader Varla Ramaiah had publicly criticized the former APHRC chief for lack of adequate staff. When TDP came to power, it assured that the commission would be strengthened. However, no steps appear to have been taken so far.

Similarly, the Lokayukta, which deals with public complaints regarding corruption and misconduct in government bodies, was left headless after the retirement of Justice P. Lakshmana Reddy on September 14, 2024. Since then, Upa Lokayukta P. Rajani has been assuming the responsibilities on an interim basis.

Although he has a legal background and handles cases, critics argue that key institutions should not be run by the people in charge for long.

Similarly, the AP Electricity Regulatory Commission has been operating without a chairman since Justice CV Nagarjuna Reddy’s term ends in the last quarter of 2024. One commissioner currently serves as the chief executive overseeing the operations of this important regulatory agency.

“The reason is simple. Former chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy declared Kurnool as the judicial capital. The coalition government is not willing to accept this decision and is diluting its spirit. Their initial plan was to shift these offices to Amaravati. But due to resistance from locals, including minister TG Bharath, the decision was postponed. These important offices are being kept deliberately headless,” a lawyer observed on condition of anonymity.

Telugu Desam leaders, however, argue that despite the efforts of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Education Minister Lokesh, opposition-backed lawsuits have delayed the appointment process.

It is noteworthy that Child Welfare Committees (CWCs) and Juvenile Justice Boards (JJBs), which are responsible for addressing child-related issues in all districts, have not seen any new appointments. Previous committees appointed in 2021 completed their three-year terms in November 2024. Critics point out that the government has repeatedly issued multiple notices to cancel even after holding talks.