A Division Bench of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, comprising Justices Ravinath Tilhari and R. Raghunandan Rao, has set aside G.O. Rt. No.552 issued by Home (Courts-A) Department (dated May 22, 2023) and consequently the appointment of J. Sudarshan Reddy as Director of Prosecutions (DoP) of Andhra Pradesh while partly allowing and disposing of a writ petition filed by additional DoP B. Ramakoteswara Rao.
The Bench ordered that a new DoP should be appointed by following the due process after obtaining the concurrence of the Chief Justice within four months and, in the meanwhile, continue Mr. Sudarshan Reddy as the interim DoP.
The court also directed the Principal Secretary (Home) to finalise the method of appointment of the DoP in line with it’s (the court) observation that the said process should be indicative that the search for a meritorious candidate was undertaken and the appointment was made only on the basis of merit and not for any other consideration.
