In a candid and emotional farewell speech, Justice Duppala Venkata Ramana, presently serving at the Madhya Pradesh High Court, alleged that his transfer from the Andhra Pradesh High Court in 2023 was carried out with “ill intention” and aimed at harassing him. He retires from judicial service on June 2.
Justice Ramana stated that he was transferred without any valid reason and that his multiple representations to the Supreme Court Collegium — including a request for a transfer to Karnataka on humanitarian grounds — were never considered or responded to.
“No Merit Found in My Plea for Transfer to Karnataka”
Justice Ramana revealed that he had sought a posting in Karnataka to ensure better medical treatment for his wife, who suffers from a serious neurological condition known as Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizures (PNES), worsened by a COVID-related brain infirmity. Despite these circumstances, his plea was not accommodated.
“I was asked options. I opted [for the] State of Karnataka, so that my wife gets better treatment in NIMHANS but it was not considered by Hon’ble Supreme Court,” he said.
He further elaborated, “I took over [as] 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… But the representation was neither considered nor rejected.”
Justice Ramana emphasized the emotional toll caused by the lack of response from the Collegium: “The judge like me expects positive humanitarian consideration. I was disheartened and deeply pained.”
“Transfer Order Issued with Ill Intention”
Referring to the circumstances of his transfer from Andhra Pradesh to Madhya Pradesh, he said, “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.”
Justice Ramana was appointed as a judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court in 2022. Prior to that, he served as a judicial officer since 2007. His transfer to the Madhya Pradesh High Court was recommended by the Supreme Court Collegium comprising then Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai, and Surya Kant.
Responding to his request for transfer to Karnataka, the Collegium had recorded:
“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.”
Justice Ramana Bids Farewell with Gratitude
Despite expressing his anguish, Justice Ramana ended his farewell address on a positive note, thanking the judges and members of the Bar at Jabalpur and Indore for their support.
“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,” he remarked.
He added, “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.”
