Today, On 20th May, Justice DV Ramana said, “They will suffer,” calling his transfer from Andhra to Madhya Pradesh High Court an act of harassment. He said he had requested a move to Karnataka to care for his ailing wife.
Justice DV Ramana stated on Tuesday that his transfer from the Andhra Pradesh High Court to the Madhya Pradesh High Court in 2023 was intended to harass him.
In his farewell address, Justice Ramana expressed that he was moved without justification and that his appeal against the transfer was disregarded by the Supreme Court Collegium.
He mentioned that he had requested a transfer to Karnataka to ensure better medical care for his wife, who is suffering from a serious neurological condition.
Also Read: Delhi High Court Judges Seek Transfers
He stated,
“I was asked options. I opted State of Karnataka, so that my wife gets better treatment in NIMHANS but it was not considered by Hon’ble Supreme Court. I took over the judge of the Hon’ble High Court of Madhya Pradesh on 1-11-23. Thereafter, I sent representation to the Hon’ble Supreme Court on 19-7-24, and 28-8-24 on the ground of medical treatment of my wife, who is suffering from PNES… severe infirmity in the brain due to COVID pandemic. 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. The judge like me expects positive humanitarian consideration. I was disheartened and deeply pained,”
As he approaches his retirement on June 2, Justice Ramana noted that the current Chief Justice of India, BR Gavai, might take his case into account, but lamented that it may now be too late.
He remarked,
“Anyway, 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 are retired. God does not forgive, nor forgets. They will also suffer in other mode,”
Despite this, Justice Ramana acknowledged the immense love, support, and cooperation he received from judges and members of the Bar in Jabalpur and Indore.
He shared,
“My transfer was expected to rattle me, but it did not. I did the opposite. I have made long, lasting contributions at each of the two states – State of Andhra Pradesh and State of Madhya Pradesh. I had an opportunity to serve in the land of Amravati, Krishna and Godavari and Narmada. I have truly served justice. I am blessed for these opportunities,”
Justice Ramana was appointed as a judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court in 2022, after serving as a judicial officer since 2007.
Also Read: Centre Approves Transfer of Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma from Delhi to Calcutta High Court
He was transferred to the Madhya Pradesh High Court in 2023 based on the recommendation of the Supreme Court Collegium, which included then Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai, and Surya Kant.
The Collegium had turned down Justice Ramana’s request for a transfer to Karnataka, stating,
“We have considered the requests made by Mr Justice Duppala Venkata Ramana. The Collegium does not find any merit in the requests made by him.”