Vakkala Venkata Subba Rao, better known as V.V.S.Rao of the High Court of Adnhra Pradesh was born on the 11th of July 1950 in a remote place known as Giddaluru. The Justice’s extensive education began at Sri Venkateswara University where he was awarded a B.Sc. in Botany, Zoology and Chemistry along with a B.Ed. He then attended the University of Saugar (now Dr. Hari Singh Gour University) where he was awarded a M.A. in Criminology and Forensic Science with the Dr. Ganesh Ram Mukharia Gold Medal for achieving the highest marks in the course. It was at this time that he also gained an LL.B degree.
From 1977 to 1980 Justice Rao worked for the Government owned Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation as an Assistant Regional Manager, although he left to practice law. The Justice was admitted to the Andhra Pradesh State Bar Council in 1980 and was designated a Senior Advocate in November 1996 during which time he practiced in administrative law, constitutional law, civil law and service law appearing on many significant cases in the High Court of Andhra Pradesh. He was standing counsel for the National Institute of Rural Development, another Government owned entity, from 1991 until 1996. In addition, he was standing counsel for High Court of Judicature of Andhra Pradesh from 1987 until 1999.
Justice Rao also acted as the Vice-President of the All Indian Lawyer’s Union from 1996-1998 as well as Vice-President and Acting President of the Andhra Pradesh Chapter of the International Jurists Organisation from 1995-1997. During this time he also served on the Indo-US Legal Study Team and a sub-committee which reported on the civil judicial process.
In 1999 Justice Rao was made an Additional Judge of High Court of Andhra Pradesh and was made a permanent member less than a year later in April 2000. In October 2006 Justice Rao began a relationship with the National Judicial Academy part of which involves him delivering seminars, workshops and other training programs. As part of this programme he was involved in an informal group of judges who reported to the Supreme Court of India on ‘Strengthening Judicial Systems Management’.
Justice Rao was member of Judicial Delegation led by Hon’ble the Chief Justice of India, that visited Australia from 18 to 26 September, 2009 and participated in ‘Australia – India International Cooperation Programme on Protection of Rights and improving Access to Justice’, Sydney. Retired on attaining the age of superannuation on the afternoon of 10.07.2012.