The Telangana High Court held a farewell program in honor of Justice Ponugoti Naveen Rao, Acting Chief Justice, as he reached the superannuation age. The event, which took place at the First Court Hall of the High Court, was attended by judges, advocates, and court staff.
Throughout his tenure, Justice Naveen Rao served on various judges' committees, including those focused on computerization, building development, and legal services. He also held positions such as President of the Telangana State Judicial Academy and Executive Chairman of the TS Legal Services Authority.
Justice Naveen Rao played a crucial role in establishing a modern filing section within the High Court. He was also instrumental in the creation of India's agri-legal aid clinics, which aim to educate farmers about the laws governing their agricultural activities. Currently, there are seventy operational clinics. Additionally, the integrated courts on family disputes, known as Kalpataru, located in Purani Haveli, Hyderabad, were conceptualized by Justice Naveen Rao.
On the day of his retirement, Justice Naveen Rao assumed the position of Acting Chief Justice of the Telangana High Court following the elevation of Chief Justice Ujjal Bhuyan to the Supreme Court.
During the farewell, Advocate General BS Prasad praised Justice Naveen Rao's contributions in enhancing the judicial infrastructure. The establishment of new district court complexes equipped with modern amenities and the development of sensible court complexes for family courts and Pocso courts dealing with children were attributed to his dedicated efforts. Furthermore, his initiatives, such as the agri-legal aid clinics and the defense counsel system under the legal aid mode, served as an inspiration to the judicial fraternity nationwide.
Justice Abhinand Kumar Shavili also commended Justice Rao's commitment to conducting numerous Lok Adalats, enabling quick delivery of justice to the people of the state. He highlighted the judge's employee-friendly measures and his emphasis on digitization and digital reforms within the high court.
In a separate event, the HC Advocates Association felicitated Justice Naveen Rao and his wife at the association hall. Expressing his gratitude, Justice Rao thanked the judges, advocates, and staff for their support throughout his tenure at the high court.
Picture Source :
