In Retirement Speech, MP High Court Judge Criticises Supreme Court Collegium For Transferring Him; Says It Was "Ill-Intentioned"

Justice Duppala Venkata Ramana today said that he was transferred from his "home state" Andhra Pradesh to the Madhya Pradesh High Court in 2023, with "ill-intention" and as a means to "harass" him.While addressing the High Court Judges and members of the bar during a farewell function organized ahead of his retirement on June 02, Justice Ramana said,"My transfer order seems to have been issued with ill intention and to harass me. I was transferred from my home state for obvious reasons. I am happy to satisfy for their ego. Now they have retired. God does not forgive nor forget. They will also suffer in other mode," he said.Justice Ramana disclosed that he made various representations to the Supreme Court Collegium for reconsideration of his transfer, particularly due to medical complications of his wife, but the same went unheard. He said, "I was transferred from Andhra Pradesh High Court to Madhya Pradesh High Court without any reasons. I was asked for options. I opted the State of Karnataka so that my wife gets better treatment in NIMHANS. But it was not considered by the Honourable Supreme Court. I took over as a judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court on November 1, 23. Thereafter, I sent a representation to the honourable Supreme Court on 19 July, 2024 and 28 August, 2024 on the ground of medical treatment of my wife...But the representation was neither considered nor rejected. During the tenure of the then Chief Justices, I sent another representation. That too was neither rejected nor considered. I received no response. A Judge like me expects positive humanitarian consideration. I was disheartened and deeply pained. The present Chief Justice Mr. Gavai may consider but it's too late in the day."Justice Ramana however added that as fortune would have it, what he considered a bane turned into a boon. He said, "I received immeasurable love, support and cooperation from my brother Judges as well as members of the bar at Jabalpur and Indore. My transfers were expected to rattle me but it did not. I did the opposite. I have made a long lasting contribution in each of the two states of Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. I have truly served justice. I am blessed for these opportunities.”He also expressed gratitude to Justice Shri NV Ramana, former Chief Justice of India who supported him during the course of his career as a judge.In his speech, Justice Ramana also spoke about the challenges he faced in his early life. "My life journey began in a remote village...where electricity, roads, basic amenities were not available. First time, I saw electricity when I was a 14-year-old. At the age of 13 years, my father died in harness. My mother is illlietarte. I was raised and guided by my mother and brother. They encouraged me to pursue studies."He concluded saying that after facing many challenges in life, he realised that except hard work, there are no shortcuts to success. "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in the moments of comfort and convenience but where he stands at times of challenges and controversy.”Justice Vivek Rusia, Additional Advocate General Anand Soni, Deputy Solicitor General Himanshu Joshi, Advocate Sunil Gupta (Member of MP Bar Council) and Advocate Ritesh Inani (President of Indore Bar Association) also addressed the gathering.Justice Ramana was born to Sri Duppala Appanna, who was a Railway Gangman, and Smt.Varahalamma on 03rd June, 1963 in Chinna Boddepalli Hamlet, Ponduru Mandal of Srikakulam District. At the age of 13 years, his father died in harness and he was brought up by his mother and elder brother Sri Duppala Venkata Satyam.He accomplished a Bachelor of Law in N.V.P. Law College, Visakhapatnam in 1989 and a Master of Law at Acharya Nagarjuna University, Guntur. He got enrolled as an Advocate in June, 1989 and joined District Bar Association, Srikakulam and practised till June, 1990. Thereafter, he shifted practice to Visakhapatnam Bar Association and practised till May, 1994.He was the first-generation lawyer of the family. He was selected as District Munsif in 1994 and worked in Amalapuram, Macharla, Hyderabad, Vijayawada and Tirupati. He was promoted to Senior Civil Judge in January 2007 and worked in Hyderabad, Tirupati and Kakinada.He was promoted to District Judge in the year 2015 and functioned as VII Additional District & Sessions Judge in Kakinada. Deputed as Devasthanam Law Officer, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams from 2015 to 2017.Since he was Interested in Legislative Drafting, he was appointed as Registrar (Management), later as Registrar (Recruitment) and further as Registrar (Administration) from June 2019 till 03.08.2022.He was elevated as an Additional Judge of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh on 04.08.2022 and worked till 30.10.2023. He took oath on 01.11.2023 as an Additional Judge of the High Court of Madhya Pradesh at Jabalpur.

In Retirement Speech, MP High Court Judge Criticises Supreme Court Collegium For Transferring Him; Says It Was "Ill-Intentioned"

Anukriti Mishra

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