Overview
The Andhra Pradesh High Court on 25 September 2026 ruled that a large batch of writ petitions challenging the three‑capitals scheme are now infructuous. This follows the passage of the AP Reorganisation (Amendment) Act which formally names Amaravati as the state’s sole capital.
Key Developments
- Division Bench led by Chief Justice Lisa Gill declared the petitions infructuous after the parliamentary amendment.
- Pending matters will be heard on 20 November 2026, considering the Supreme Court’s hearing of related appeals scheduled for 29 November 2026.
- State Advocate General Dammalapati Srinivas informed the bench that the government filed an affidavit in December 2024 committing to complete Amaravati’s infrastructure within three years.
- Petitioners were urged to withdraw their Special Leave Petitions (SLPs) that the previous YSRCP government had filed.
- A senior advocate demanded time‑bound allotment of developed plots to beneficiaries of the Land Pooling Scheme (LPS).
Important Facts
• The original three‑capitals proposal was announced in December 2019 by CM Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy.
• Protests erupted, especially from farmers who had contributed land under the LPS for Amaravati’s construction.
• In March 2022, a three‑judge High Court bench held that the capital could not be shifted from Amaravati, citing lack of legislative competence.
• The AP Capital Region Development Authority Repeal Act and the AP Decentralisation and Inclusive Development of All Regions Act were the statutes challenged by the petitions.
Exam Relevance
Understanding this case helps aspirants with:
- Federal‑state relations and the limits of state legislative competence (GS2).
- Judicial review of policy decisions and the role of High Courts and the Supreme Court (GS2).
- Land acquisition models like the LPS, relevant for questions on agrarian reforms and urban planning.
- Political dynamics of regional parties, exemplified by the YSRCP, and their interaction with central legislation.
Way Forward
• The High Court will examine remaining petitions on 20 November 2026, likely focusing on procedural issues rather than the capital’s location.
• The Supreme Court’s hearing on 29 November 2026 will decide the fate of the earlier High Court judgment of March 2022.
• Implementation of the infrastructure projects in Amaravati, as pledged in the 2024 affidavit, will be crucial for restoring confidence among land‑pooling beneficiaries.
• Monitoring the withdrawal of SLPs will indicate whether the legal battle is truly concluding or merely shifting to a higher forum.