Former Chief Justice of India (CJI), Justice N.V. Ramana, has stated that criminal cases were filed against his family members in an attempt to “coerce” him. Addressing the 5th Convocation of VIT-AP University on Saturday, Justice Ramana remarked that members of the judiciary who upheld constitutional principles faced “pressure and persecution.”
While not taking any names, the former CJI’s comments were made in the context of the previous YSRCP regime’s proposal to establish “three capitals” for Andhra Pradesh. This formula, which designated Visakhapatnam as the administrative capital, Amaravati as the legislative capital, and Kurnool as the judicial capital, effectively scrapped Amaravati as the state’s sole capital.
The move triggered a significant agitation by farmers from the Amaravati region. Justice Ramana linked the pressure he faced to this period.
Justice Ramana stated that “families of judges who had no role became collateral to political organisations.”
He elaborated on his personal experience, stating, “All of you present, most of you present here, know how my family was targeted and criminal cases were filed against them. All this was done only to coerce me, and I was not alone.”
He extended this observation to the broader context of the farmers’ protests: “During that difficult phase, all those who empathised with the cause of the farmers faced intimidation and coercion.”
Justice Ramana highlighted the role of the legal community during that time. “In such times, when many political leaders hesitated to take a stance or remain silent, it was the jurists, lawyers, and the courts of this country who stood by their constitutional promise,” he said.
The former CJI emphasized the judiciary’s foundational role, noting, “While governments may change, the courts and rule of law remain the anchor of stability. And the rule of law survives only when people repose their public trust, decline to surrender their integrity for convenience.”
Recalling his association with Amaravati, Justice Ramana paid tribute to the farmers who protested the “three capitals” formula.
“I salute the spirit of the farmers of Amaravati, who courageously withstood the forces of government mechanism. I draw a lot of inspiration from the farmers’ struggle. I also thank them for reposing their trust on the judicial system and the democratic process,” he concluded.
The report also noted that following the change in government, the new administration led by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has revived the Amaravati capital project.
