Kadapa District Court

ABOUT DISTRICT COURT

Initially, the Judicial Administration of Kadapa region was with the Vijayanagar empire. The Imperial Court at the capital was usually presided over by the monarch who also redressed the grievances of the local people during his tours. A series of Courts, both itinerant and stationary, were set up and an elaborate procedure for the conduct of trial and disposal of appeals was also prescribed. The Governors of 'provinces' were holding regular courts to dispense justice. The 'amaranayakas' in the villages disposed of cases on the same pattern. Civil disputes were mostly settled by the people themselves by setting up temporary Courts, known as 'dharmasanas' (seats of justice), which were wound up soon after judgments had been pronounced. They were invariably guided by the Manu, the Yagnavalkya and other Smrithis.

The British system of Judicial Administration, popularly known as the 'Cornwallis system' was introduced in the Madras Presidency in 1802. A hierarchy of Courts was set up in the district. Appellate Courts called 'Provincial Courts' were also established on the civil side. They were called Courts of Circuit when they tried criminal cases. The Sadr Adalat, consisting of the Governor and the members of the Council, was the[...]