Justice N. V. Ramana (CJI): Know Your Judges

Author: Abhishek Sinha, ICFAI Law School, Dehradun

INTRODUCTION:

The Supreme Court of India is the Apex court of the country and it’s the highest court of appeal. Justice N. V. Ramana is the 48th Chief Justice of India. He will abdicate his office on the 26th of August, 2022 after completing his reign of 16 months as CJI.

EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION:

Justice N. V. Ramana was born on 27th August 1957 in an agrarian family in Ponnavaram Village, Krishna District of Andhra Pradesh. He was known for his activism regarding issues involving farmers and industrial workers. He graduated in science and law and become the first generation lawyer of his family.

CAREER:

• Enrolled as an advocate on 10th February 1983.
• Specialized in Constitutional, Criminal, Service, and Inter-State River laws.
• Was Additional Advocate General for Andhra Pradesh before being called to the State High Court Bench in 2001.
• Practiced in the High Court of Andhra Pradesh, Central and Andhra Pradesh Administrative Tribunals, and the Supreme Court of India in Civil, Criminal, Constitutional, Labour, Service, and Election matters.
• Functioned as Additional Standing Counsel for Central Government and Standing Counsel for Railways in the Central Administrative Tribunal at Hyderabad, as Panel Counsel for various Government Organizations, as Additional Advocate General of Andhra Pradesh. He was appointed as a Permanent Judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court on June 27, 2000, and as Acting Chief Justice of Andhra Pradesh High Court from March 10, 2013, to May 20, 2013.
• Participated in several National and International Conferences held in India and abroad and submitted papers on various topics of legal importance.

IMPORTANT JUDGEMENTS:

Laxmi Singh and others v Rekha Singh and others

Justice Raman held that the principle of secret ballot is an important postulate of constitutional democracy.

Observed – “It is to be observed that one of the fundamental principles of election law pertains to the maintenance of free and fair elections, ensuring the purity of elections. The principle of secrecy of ballots is an important postulate of constitutional democracy whose aim is the achievement of this goal”

Union of India v Dharam Pal

Observation by Justice Ramana, “Solitary confinement prior to the disposal of the mercy petition is per se illegal and amounts to separate and additional punishment not authorized by law.”

References:

https://www.livelaw.in/top-stories/major-judgments-of-justice-nv-ramana-new-chief-justice-of-india-173117#:~:text=A%20judgment%20authored%20by%20Justice,ensuring%20the%20purity%20of%20elections.

https://main.sci.gov.in/chief-justice-judges

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/justice-nv-ramana-sworn-in-as-48th-chief-justice-of-india/article34399114.ece#:~:text=over%20one%20year-,Justice%20N.V.,Nath%20Kovind%20at%20Rashtrapati%20Bhavan.