My transfer to MP HC was harassment, says judge Duppala Venkata Ramana at farewell

INDORE: Justice Duppala Venkata Ramana, who is due to retire from MP high court on June 2, claimed in his farewell speech on Tuesday that his transfer order to the state in 2023 was "issued with ill intention to harass" him and that his family suffered in silence.

Expressing his pain during a function at the conference hall of MP HC's Indore bench, Ramana said his transfer from his home state, Andhra Pradesh, was for "obvious" reasons. "I am happy to satisfy their ego. Now they are retired. God does not forgive nor forget... They will also suffer in other mode," he said, without elaborating who he was referring to. He was shifted without any reason, he said, adding SC collegium didn't respond to his representation against it.

Plea for K'taka transfer was neither considered nor rejected: HC judge
Justice Ramana had requested a transfer to Karnataka so that he could look after his wife, suffering from a serious neurological disorder after Covid. "I was asked for options. I opted for Karnataka so that my wife gets better treatment at NIMHANS," he said.

"I took oath as Judge of HC of Madhya Pradesh on Nov 1, 2023. Thereafter, I sent representation to SC on July 19, 2024, and Aug 28, 2024, on grounds of medical treatment of my wife, who is suffering from PNES (paroxysmal non-epileptic disease) or severe infirmity in the brain due to Covid. But the representation was neither considered nor rejected," he said.

"During the tenure of the then CJI, I sent another representation, but there was no response. I expected positive humanitarian consideration. I was disheartened and deeply pained," he said, adding: "The present CJI, BR Gavai, may consider it, but it is too late now, as I am demitting office."

Despite the personal distress caused by the transfer, Justice Ramana said that he found immense support and professional fulfilment in MP. "As fortune would have it, the bane turned into boon for me because I received immeasurable love and support and cooperation from my brother judges as well as members of the bar at Jabalpur and Indore. My transfer was expected to rattle me, but it did not. It did the opposite. I have made long-lasting contributions in each of the two states, Andhra and MP. I had an opportunity to serve in the land of Amravati, Krishna and Godavari and Narmada," he said.

"I have truly served justice. I am blessed for these opportunities," he said.