ABOUT DISTRICT COURT

In the Madras Presidency, the District of Rajahmundry was created in 1823. It was re-organized in 1859 and was bifurcated into Godavari and Krishna Districts. During British rule, Rajahmundry was the headquarters of Godavari District, which was further bifurcated into East Godavari and West Godavari Districts in 1925. When the Godavari District was divided, Kakinada became the headquarters of East Godavari and the Judicial Headquarters is Rajahmundry. In the year 2015, on the event of Godavari Pushkarams, the nomenclature of Rajahmundry is changed as RAJAMAHENDRAVARAM. The Principal District Court, East Godavari at Rajamahendravaram was established in the year 1804 and in the District 64 number of Courts, i.e., 14 District Courts, 13 Senior Civil Judge Courts, 34 Junior Civil Judge Courts, 3 Special Magistrate Courts, District Legal Services Authority and Permanent Lok Adalat for Public Utility Services are functioning.Many eminent Advocates and Staff members from the District were selected as Judicial Officers in the State Judiciary. Some of the advocates in the District are served as District Judges and later elevated as Judges to the Hon’ble High Court.The Principal District Judge is the Head of both Judicial and Administrative wings of the District Judiciary.The administrative side of the District Court is looked after by the Administrative Officer who is assisted by Superintendents, Senior Assistants, Junior assistants, Typists, Personal Assistants, Field Assistants, Examiners, Copyists, Record Assistants, Process-server and Attenders.The administrative side of the Senior Civil Judge’s Court is looked after by the Superintendent Category-II assisted by Senior Assistants, Junior Assistants, Typists and other staff members.The administrative side of the Junior Civil Judge’s Court is looked after by the Superintendent Category-III assisted by Junior Assistants, Typists and other staff members.

The District Court exercises both original and appellate jurisdiction.The original jurisdiction includes the entertainment of original suits where the value of the suit is more than Rs.50,00,000/-, petitions in motor accidents cases, petitions in respect of Special Acts etc., The appellate jurisdiction includes the hearing of appeals both on the civil side and Criminal side. The District Judge hears appeals in all civil matters where the subject matter of the appeal is less than Rs.50,00,000/- and in criminal cases where the punishment imposed is less than seven years. The District Court also exercises revisional jurisdiction in criminal cases under section 399 Cr.P.C.The Civil Judge’s Court (Senior Division) exercises original jurisdiction.As per the Civil Courts Act, on its original side, the Civil Judge(Senior Division) hears all original suits the value of which is above Rs.20,00,000/- and upto Rs.50,00,000/- while sitting on the criminal side, the Assistant Sessions Court hears all cases as per the schedule to the Code of Criminal Procedure. An Assistant Sessions Judge can impose a sentence of imprisonment upto 10 years and fine.The Civil Judge’s Court (Junior Division) exercises only original jurisdiction. It hears all petitions and original suits of the value below Rs.20,00,000/-. A Judicial Magistrate of First Class can impose a sentence of imprisonment upto three years and fine upto Rs.10,000/-.