Andhra Cabinet clears special NIA court in Visakhapatnam with state-wide jurisdiction
Synopsis
The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet has cleared a dedicated NIA court in Visakhapatnam with state-wide jurisdiction — a direct response to a Supreme Court directive — as 19 of the state's 20 pending NIA cases pile up in the port city. The same Cabinet meeting also approved three Centres of Excellence to give underprivileged students a shot at IIT, NEET, and JEE.
Key Takeaways
The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet on 10 July approved a special NIA court in Visakhapatnam with jurisdiction over the entire state.
20 NIA cases are pending in the state; 19 are concentrated before the 3rd Additional District and Sessions Judge, Visakhapatnam .
The court will be staffed by 16 personnel , including a Special Judge , following a Supreme Court directive to all states.
The Cabinet also created the post of Registrar (Court Case and Management) at the AP High Court , equivalent to a District Judge.
Three Centres of Excellence for underprivileged students — at Madhurawada, Tadikonda, and Kota — will offer free IIT, NEET, and JEE coaching alongside Intermediate studies.
Each centre will accommodate 300 students with a 50% reservation for girls from the current academic year.
The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet on Friday, 10 July approved the creation of a dedicated special court in Visakhapatnam to exclusively handle cases filed under the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Act, 2008, granting it jurisdiction over the entire state. The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu at the State Secretariat in Amaravati.
Why a New Court Was Needed
According to Law and Minority Welfare Minister NMD Farooq, the move follows a directive from the Supreme Court to all states to establish dedicated NIA courts for the time-bound disposal of cases under the 2008 Act. The Andhra Pradesh High Court's Registrar (Administration) had formally communicated this directive to the state government.
Currently, two notified courts handle NIA matters in the state — one in Vijayawada and one in Visakhapatnam. Of the 20 NIA cases pending in Andhra Pradesh, 19 are before the Court of the 3rd Additional District and Sessions Judge, Visakhapatnam, and one is before the 2nd Additional District and Sessions Judge, Vijayawada. Given the concentration of cases in Visakhapatnam, the High Court recommended elevating the arrangement to a full-fledged special court at the District and Sessions Judge level.
Key Decisions on Court Staffing and Structure
The Cabinet approved the appointment of a total of 16 staff members, including a Special Judge, to operationalise the new court. The Visakhapatnam court will carry state-wide jurisdiction, meaning NIA cases from across Andhra Pradesh can be heard there.
Separately, the Cabinet also cleared the creation of the post of Registrar (Court Case and Management) — equivalent in rank to a District Judge — on a regular basis within the Andhra Pradesh High Court. This is intended to strengthen case-management infrastructure at the High Court level.
Centres of Excellence for Underprivileged Students
Beyond the judiciary, the Cabinet approved the establishment of three Centres of Excellence under the Social Welfare Department, designed to provide corporate-standard education to underprivileged students. Social Welfare Minister Dola Sree Bala Veeranjaneya Swamy said the centres aim to bridge the gap between government schooling and competitive examination preparation.
The three centres will be set up from the current academic year at Madhurawada in Visakhapatnam district, Tadikonda in Guntur district, and Kota in Tirupati district. Each centre will accommodate 300 students — 150 boys and 150 girls — across the first and second years of Intermediate education, covering both MPC and BiPC streams.
Students will receive free coaching for competitive examinations including IIT, NEET, and JEE alongside their regular Intermediate curriculum. A 50 per cent reservation for girls will apply to admissions. The state government plans to invite tenders for professional management of the centres while retaining supervisory control.
What Comes Next
With Cabinet approval in place, the formal notification and appointment process for the special NIA court's staff, including the Special Judge, is expected to follow. The Centres of Excellence are slated to begin operations from the ongoing academic year, with tenders for management entities to be floated shortly.
Point of View
With the state retaining only supervisory control, reflects a shift in how Andhra Pradesh under Naidu approaches public service delivery — market-tested execution over departmental machinery.
NationPress
11 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the Andhra Pradesh Cabinet decide about the NIA court in Visakhapatnam?
The Cabinet approved the creation of a special NIA court in Visakhapatnam with jurisdiction over the entire state of Andhra Pradesh, along with 16 staff posts including a Special Judge. The decision follows a Supreme Court directive asking all states to set up dedicated courts for time-bound disposal of cases under the NIA Act, 2008.
Why was Visakhapatnam chosen for the special NIA court?
Of the 20 NIA cases currently pending in Andhra Pradesh, 19 are before the 3rd Additional District and Sessions Judge in Visakhapatnam. The Andhra Pradesh High Court recommended elevating this to a dedicated District and Sessions Judge-level court given the volume of cases concentrated there.
What are the Centres of Excellence approved by the Andhra Cabinet?
Three Centres of Excellence under the Social Welfare Department will be set up at Madhurawada (Visakhapatnam district), Tadikonda (Guntur district), and Kota (Tirupati district) from the current academic year. Each centre will provide 300 underprivileged students with free coaching for IIT, NEET, and JEE alongside their Intermediate studies, with a 50% reservation for girls.
What is the Supreme Court's role in the NIA court decision?
The Supreme Court had issued a directive to all state governments to establish special NIA courts for the time-bound disposal of cases under the National Investigation Agency Act, 2008. The AP High Court's Registrar (Administration) communicated this directive to the state government, prompting the Cabinet proposal.
Who presided over the Andhra Pradesh Cabinet meeting on 10 July?
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu chaired the Cabinet meeting held at the State Secretariat in Amaravati on 10 July. Law and Minority Welfare Minister NMD Farooq briefed the media on the decisions related to the Law Department.
