The Supreme Court Collegium on Wednesday (September 23) recommended permanent appointments for five Additional Judges of the Andhra Pradesh High Court.

The Collegium in its resolution stated:

"The Supreme Court Collegium, in its meeting held on 23 rd September 2026, has approved the proposals for appointment of the following Additional Judges as Permanent Judges of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh:

(i) Shri Justice Maheswara Rao Kuncheam @ Kuncham,

(ii) Shri Justice Thoota Chandra Dhana Sekar @ T.C.D. Sekhar,

(iii) Shri Justice Challa Gunaranjan,

(iv) Shri Justice Avadhanam Hari Haranadha Sarma, and

(v) Dr. Justice Yadavalli Lakshmana Rao".

Justice Maheswara Rao Kuncheam @ Kuncham Rao obtained a Bachelor of Academic Laws & Bachelor of Law (B.A.L., B.L.) from S.V.University, Tirupathi and enrolled with the Bar Council of India on 17.02.1998. In 2000 he shifted his practice to the High Court of Andhra Pradesh at Hyderabad.

He served as Standing Counsel for several prominent public sector undertakings, including the Food Corporation of India, Central Warehousing Corporation, H.P.C.L., United India Insurance Company, New India Assurance Company and other reputed financial institutions. He was appointed as Additional Judge of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh and took oath of office on 28.10.2024.

Justice Thoota Chandra Dhana Sekar obtained his Bachelor of Law (B.L.) degree from V.R. Law College, Nellore and enrolled as an Advocate on 11th March, 1999, on the rolls of the Bar Council of Andhra Pradesh. He served as the Government Pleader for Commercial Taxes for the State of Andhra Pradesh in the High Court from September 2019 until his elevation to the Bench. He was appointed as Additional Judge of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh and sworn-in as such on 28th October, 2024.

Justice Challa Gunaranjan completed his degree and law studies at Hyderabad and enrolled as an Advocate in 2001. He served as a Standing Counsel for the Medical Council of India from 2011 to 2013 and appeared for various Educational Institutions at High Court. Also appeared for various Government of India Public Sector Undertakings as Special Counsel before Tribunals and High Court.

He was appointed as Additional Judge of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh and sworn-in as such on 28.10.2024.

Justice Avadhanam Hari Haranadha Sarma obtained B.L. Degree from V.R. Law College, Nellore, affiliated with Sri Venkateswara University. He enrolled as an Advocate on 02.03.1994 on the Rolls of Bar Council of Andhra Pradesh. He was selected as a District Judge by direct recruitment and joined in Higher Judicial Service in 2007.

He discharged duties as Special Judge, Mahila Court-cum-VI Additional District and Sessions Judge, Visakhapatnam, I Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge, Nampally Courts, II Additional Chief Judge, City Civil Courts, Hyderabad, II Additional District Judge-cum-Chairman, Land Reforms Appellate Tribunal, I Additional District Judge, FAC Principal District and Sessions Judge, West Godavari.

Subsequently served as Principal District and Sessions Judge, Ananthapur, Guntur, Visakhapatnam and FAC Chairman, A.P. Value Added Tax Appellate Tribunal, Visakhapatnam, FAC Chairman-cum-Presiding Officer, Industrial Tribunal-cum-Labour Court, Anantapuramu, Visakhapatnam and Chairman, Industrial Tribunal, Guntur.

He was elevated as Additional Judge of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh, Amaravati, and took oath of office on 24.01.2025.

Dr. Justice Y. Lakshmana Rao obtained B.A.L., B.L. at V.R. Law College, Nellore and further obtained Doctorate in Law from Andhra University, Visakhapatnam. He served as I Additional District & Sessions Judge, Eluru, West Godavari District from 25th February, 2014.

He worked as Chairman, LRAT-cum-II Additional District & Sessions Judge, West Godavari, Eluru; Chairman-cum-Presiding Officer, Industrial Tribunal-cum-Labour Court, Anantapuramu; Principal District & Sessions Judge, Krishna at Machilipatnam before he was appointed as Registrar (Judicial), High Court of Andhra Pradesh, Amaravati.

Subsequently, Justice Rao was appointed as Registrar General and functioned as such till his elevation as Additional Judge of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh on 24th January, 2025.

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