Andhra Pradesh HC directs govt. to extend tenure of APSCPCR members till new body is formed

The Andhra Pradesh High Court has directed the Secretary, Women Development and Child Welfare (WD&CW) Department, to consider the representations for extension made by the existing AP State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (APSCPCR) Chairperson till the appointment of a new body.

Responding to the writ petition filed by APSCPCR Chairperson Kesali Appa Rao and members T. Adi Lakshmi, G. Seetaram and J. Rajendra Prasad, the High Court directed the WD&CW Secretary to pass appropriate orders in two weeks, said counsel for the petitioners T.V.V. Koteswara Rao.

The term of the existing Commission had completed in April 2025. The Chairperson and the members made representations to the WD&CW Secretary seeking extension of their tenure until appointment of the new Commission.

“Though Mr. Appa Rao and the Commission members made representations in March and April 2025 to the government, their request has not been considered. The petitioners approached the High Court, which gave the orders,” Mr. Koteswara Rao told The Hindu on Saturday.

The WD&CW Department issued notification on September 4, 2025, for appointment of new APSCPCR.