Five Additional Judges Appointed Permanent Judges of Andhra Pradesh HC

Chief Justice of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, Justice Lisa Gill, administered the oath to Justice Kuncham Maheswara Rao, Justice Thoota Chandra Dhana Sekhar, Justice Challa Gunaranjan, Justice Avadhanam Hari Haranadha Sarma and Justice Yadavalli Lakshmana Rao.

The notification confirming their appointment as permanent judges was read out during the swearing-in ceremony.

The Supreme Court Collegium had recommended their appointment as permanent judges at its meeting on September 23. President Droupadi Murmu subsequently approved the appointments and issued the formal orders on September 30.

Justice Kuncham Maheswara Rao, Justice Thoota Chandra Dhana Sekhar and Justice Challa Gunaranjan had earlier been appointed additional judges of the Andhra Pradesh High Court and took oath on October 28, 2024. Justice Avadhanam Hari Haranadha Sarma and Justice Yadavalli Lakshmana Rao were sworn in as additional judges on January 24, 2025.

Justice Kuncham Maheswara Rao studied Bachelor of Academic Laws and Bachelor of Laws at Sri Venkateswara University and enrolled with the Bar Council of India in February 1998. He moved his legal practice to the Andhra Pradesh High Court at Hyderabad in 2000.

During his legal career, he served as standing counsel for several public sector organisations, including the Food Corporation of India, Central Warehousing Corporation, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd, United India Insurance Company and New India Assurance Company, besides representing financial institutions.

Justice Thoota Chandra Dhana Sekhar obtained his law degree from V.R. Law College, Nellore and enrolled as an advocate with the Bar Council of Andhra Pradesh in March 1999. He served as Government Pleader for Commercial Taxes for Andhra Pradesh before the High Court from September 2019 until his elevation to the Bench.

Justice Challa Gunaranjan completed his education and legal studies in Hyderabad and enrolled as an advocate in 2001. He served as standing counsel for the Medical Council of India between 2011 and 2013 and represented several educational institutions before the High Court.

He also appeared as special counsel for various public sector undertakings of the Government of India before tribunals and the High Court.

Justice Avadhanam Hari Haranadha Sarma completed his Bachelor of Laws from V.R. Law College, Nellore, affiliated with Sri Venkateswara University. He enrolled with the Bar Council of Andhra Pradesh in March 1994 and was later selected through direct recruitment to the post of district judge. He joined the higher judicial service in 2007.

Justice Yadavalli Lakshmana Rao obtained his law degree from V.R. Law College, Nellore and later earned a doctorate in law from Andhra University, Visakhapatnam.

He served as Additional District and Sessions Judge at Eluru in West Godavari district from February 2014 before being elevated to the High Court.