The Supreme Court Collegium has proposed the transfer of Justice Kumbhajadala Manmadha Rao from the Andhra Pradesh High Court to the Karnataka High Court.

The recommendation was made following meetings of the Collegium held on April 15 and April 19, 2025.

According to a statement released on the Supreme Court’s website, the decision is part of a broader initiative to promote inclusivity and diversity within the higher judiciary and to enhance the quality of justice delivery across High Courts.

Justice Rao began his legal career upon enrolling with the Bar Council of Andhra Pradesh on June 25, 1991. He commenced practice under advocate Sri Nagisetty Mohan Das in Ongole before establishing an independent practice in Kandukur, where he also served as Secretary of the local Bar Association.

In 1999, Justice Rao shifted his legal practice to the Andhra Pradesh High Court at Hyderabad. Over the years, he held several key legal positions, including Senior Standing Counsel for the Central Excise Board (2008–2016), Special Public Prosecutor and Standing Counsel for the Enforcement Directorate in PMLA matters (2016–2020), and counsel for the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence in NDPS cases. His work spanned various courts, including those in Hyderabad and Amravati.

He was elevated to the Andhra Pradesh High Court Bench on December 8, 2021.

The Karnataka High Court, currently functioning with 50 judges against a sanctioned strength of 62, is expected to benefit from his experience. The same Collegium resolution has also recommended the transfer of four sitting judges of the Karnataka High Court to other High Courts.