Transfers of High Court Judges: Justice Devanand to Andhra Pradesh, Three Judges Reposted to Telangana
Significant developments have taken place within the Indian judiciary. The Supreme Court Collegium has recommended the transfer of Justice Battu Devanand, currently serving at the Madras High Court, back to the Andhra Pradesh High Court. At the same time, the Collegium has also proposed returning three judges who were previously transferred to other states back to the Telangana High Court. These recommendations were made during the first meeting of the Collegium led by Chief Justice of India Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai, which approved the transfers of 21 judges across High Courts in ten states.
Justice Battu Devanand was initially appointed as a judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court on January 13, 2020. He was later transferred to the Madras High Court, where he assumed duties on April 10, 2023. Now, based on the Supreme Court Collegium's recommendation, he is set to return to the Andhra Pradesh High Court. Born on April 14, 1966, in Gudivada, Justice Devanand earned his law degree from Andhra University Law College and was enrolled as an advocate on July 6, 1989, beginning his practice at the Visakhapatnam District Court.
Regarding the Telangana High Court, the Collegium has recommended transferring the current Acting Chief Justice Justice Sujoy Paul to the Calcutta High Court. Justice Sujoy Paul, who hails from Madhya Pradesh, was transferred to the Telangana High Court on March 26, 2024. Following the transfer of then-Chief Justice Justice Alok Aradhe to the Bombay High Court, Justice Sujoy Paul has been serving as Acting Chief Justice since January 21, 2025.
Three judges are being reposted to the Telangana High Court: Justice Annireddy Abhishek Reddy, Justice Kanneganti Lalitha, and Justice Chillakuru Sumalatha.
Justice Annireddy Abhishek Reddy was born on November 7, 1967, in Lingampally, Manchal mandal of Rangareddy district. He obtained his law degree from Osmania Law College and enrolled as an advocate in 1990. With expertise in civil, criminal, and constitutional law, he served as standing counsel for various government institutions. He was appointed as a judge of the Telangana High Court on August 26, 2019, and transferred to the Patna High Court on May 15, 2023. After two years, he is now returning to Telangana.
Justice Kanneganti Lalitha was born in Jammulapalem of Bapatla district. Enrolled as an advocate in 1994, she practiced in areas including civil, criminal, constitutional, taxation, and service law. She served as standing counsel for institutions such as the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, the Endowments Department, and various universities. Appointed to the Andhra Pradesh High Court on May 2, 2020, she was transferred to the Telangana High Court on November 15, 2021, and later to the Karnataka High Court on July 28, 2023. She is now being transferred back to the Telangana High Court.
Justice Chillakuru Sumalatha was born on February 5, 1972, in Nellore. She received her law degree from Padmavathi Mahila University, Tirupati, in 1995. Selected as a district judge in 2007, she served in Kurnool, Madanapalle, Anantapur, and Guntur. She has also held positions as Director of the Judicial Academy and Chief Judge of the City Civil Court. Appointed to the Telangana High Court on October 14, 2021, she was transferred to the Karnataka High Court on November 23, 2023. As per the Collegium’s latest recommendation, she will return to the Telangana High Court.