Telangana HC CJ Alok Aradhe lauded for his services

Justice Alok Aradhe's tenure as Chief Justice of Telangana High Court marked by live streaming, virtual appearances, and landmark judgments.

Live streaming of all 29 benches and the facility to appear before any bench via virtual mode would remain among the best initiatives taken by Justice Alok Aradhe during his tenure as Chief Justice of Telangana High Court, said Telangana Advocate General A. Sudarshan Reddy.

Speaking at a programme held on HC premises on Monday to bid farewell to CJ Alok Aradhe, who had been transferred to Bombay HC, he said the outgoing CJ’s period was marked by administrative foresight and commitment to the dispensation of justice. The CJ was instrumental in the decision to construct a new building for the HC. Recognising his commitment to a new building, the State government sanctioned 100 acres of land for the new HC at Rajendranagar. The then Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud laid the foundation stone for the proposed new HC building on March 27 last year, the AG said.

Justice Alok Aradhe authored several judgments in four different constitutional courts (HCs of Madhya Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka and Telangana). In the Telangana Legislative Assembly vs A. Maheshwar Reddy writ appeal, the CJ held that no time frame can be fixed by the Speaker to take a call on adjudication of disqualification applications.

In another verdict in T. Harish Rao vs Government of AP (considering the allotment of lands in favour of Telugu film industry without calling for tenders was arbitrary and violation of Article 14), the CJ ruled that allotment of State largesse was not violative of Article 14 as long there was no arbitrariness and illegality.

Thanking the legal fraternity, sister and brother judges of the HC and all stakeholders of the judiciary for the unwavering support extended to him, Chief Justice Alok Aradhe said he always had a sense of pride to head Telangana HC, one of the youngest HCs in the country and has maximum number of women judges. He hoped that Telangana HC would continue to shine as a beacon of justice, fairness and integrity.

Observing that Telangana, with its cultural heritage and vibrant legal tradition, holds a special place for him, Justice Alok Aradhe said the Telangana HC during his tenure as CJ achieved more than 100% case clearance ratio. Telangana HC was the second HC in the country to implement NSTEP to serve warrants and summons in criminal cases, he said.