Andhra Pradesh Re-Organisation Act-2014 - A Critical Study

Abstract

The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014 (APRA), passed by the Indian Parliament on March 1, 2014, marked a watershed moment in India's federal landscape by dividing the unified state of Andhra Pradesh into two successor entities: the newly formed state of Telangana and the remaining Andhra Pradesh. This legislation, which arose from decades of regional discontent and the Telangana movement, sought to alleviate perceived socioeconomic imbalances while preserving linguistic and cultural unity among Telugu-speaking communities. However, a decade later, the Act's implementation has shown significant obstacles, including unresolved asset splits, economic disparities, political disintegration, and legal issues. This critical study looks at the historical origins of the split, the Act's fundamental clauses, its diverse effects on the economy, politics, and society, and the ongoing legal debates. Drawing on empirical evidence and court precedents, it contends that, while the APRA achieved a long-standing regional ambition, its rushed implementation and weak safeguards increased inequality, emphasizing the need for constitutional reforms in state reorganization. The paper offers lessons for India's developing federalism, emphasizing equitable resource distribution and dispute resolution methods to avert similar fissures in other linguistically unified states.