Javalakar Uma Devi

Javalakar Uma Devi (born 26 September 1959) is a judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, in India.[1] She gained public attention in 2020 after ordering the Central Bureau of Investigation (India's federal investigative agency) to probe social media posts that criticized judges of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, and also accused the Andhra Pradesh police of collaborating with political figures to attack the judiciary.[2]

Hon'ble Ms. Justice

Javalakar Uma Devi
Judge of Andhra Pradesh High Court
Assumed office
17 January 2017
Nominated byJagdish Singh Khehar
Appointed byPranab Mukherjee
Personal details
Born (1959-09-26) 26 September 1959
Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh
Alma materSri Krishnadevaraya University

Life

Uma Devi was born in 1959, in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, to Javalakar Gnanoba Rao and Javalakar Thulasibai. She earned a Bachelor in Commerce from the Sri Satya Sai Institute of Higher Learning in Anantapur in 1982, and a Bachelor in Law from Sri Krishnadevaraya University, Anantapur in 1986. She also earned a Masters in Law from Annamalai University in Chennai.[1]

Career

Uma Devi enrolled with the Bar Council of Andhra Pradesh in 1986 and initially practiced in district courts in Anantapur. She was appointed as a District Judge in 1996, and has served as the principal district judge in several places, including Kurnool, Madanapalle, Warangal, Visakhapatnam, and Hyderabad. She was later appointed the Chief Judge of the Court of Small Causes in Hyderabad.[1]

On 17 January 2017, she was appointed a judge in the High Court of Andhra Pradesh.[1]

In October 2020, following criticism of the Andhra Pradesh judiciary by members of the YSR Congress Party on social media, Uma Devi and another judge, Rakesh Kumar, directed India's federal investigative agency, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), to examine these social media posts to determine if there was a 'conspiracy' behind them, and submit a report to them in two months.[3] Uma Devi and Kumar also authorised the CBI to file a First Information Report, i.e. a police document that begins the criminal process, against persons making these social media posts, at its discretion.[2] Uma Devi and Kumar described these criticisms as "perilous to democracy."[4] The order was widely reported.[5][6][7][8]

References
  1. "Hon'ble Mrs. Justice J. Uma Devi". Andhra Pradesh High Court.
  2. Staff Reporter (12 October 2020). "A.P. HC orders CBI probe into social media posts on judges". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  3. "Andhra Pradesh HC orders CBI probe over social media posts against the Judiciary". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  4. "Andhra HC orders CBI probe into anti-judiciary remarks by YSRCP leaders". mint. 12 October 2020. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  5. PTI (13 October 2020). "Andhra Pradesh HC orders CBI probe into posts against judges on social media". ThePrint. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  6. "Andhra Pradesh HC Says Persons in High Posts 'Waging War' Against Judiciary, Orders CBI Probe". The Wire. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  7. "Andhra HC orders CBI to act against YSR leaders, others who attacked judges on social media". Hindustan Times. 12 October 2020. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  8. Service, Tribune News. "Andhra Pradesh HC orders CBI probe into social media comments by YSRCP leaders". Tribuneindia News Service. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
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