The Andhra Pradesh High Court ruled on March 3 that the state government lacked the legislative competence to either move or bifurcate or trifurcate the state capital, Amaravati.
Seeing the issue as a ‘tussle between poor landowners and the mighty government,’ the Court ordered that developed plots be given to the landholders who surrendered their lands within three months from the date of the order.
The Bench comprising Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra, M. Satyanarayana Murthy, and DVSS Somayajulu further directed the government to develop Amaravati within six months in accordance with the APCRDA (Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority) Act.
Asking the authorities to provide basic amenities like roads, drinking water, and electricity within one month, the Court asked that affidavits be filed to keep them apprised of the progress.
A minister from the YSRCP government said that they would go through the order copy before issuing a response.