Hyderabad: Justice Nutalapati Venkata Ramana aka NV Ramana became the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court after overcoming many obstacles. Commitment, values and an undeniable bias in favour of the people have helped Justice NV Ramana to stand on top in the country's judiciary. He brought greater glory to the institution of Chief Justice by delivering notable and landmark judgments.
Justice NV Ramana earned a special place for himself and will be remembered for his contributions as a people's judge. He was praised as a great judge for giving judgments that will remain an inspiration. Justice Ramana said in his judgments that if the spirit of the Constitution is violated, the court shall not remain a spectator and it should stand by the people. Ramana took some important decisions during his term. Similarly, some important orders were issued at his behest.
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Since taking charge as 48th Chief Justice of India on April 24, 2021, Justice Ramana has taken bold steps and initiated reforms in the country's judiciary. Within weeks of assuming office, he minced no words about his feelings in the selection of the chief of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). He made known his stand at the meeting of the committee on which the Prime Minister, Opposition leaders and the CJI are members. He referred to the Supreme Court's judgment that reiterated talent should be the criterion for the selection of the CBI chief. Those with at least six months of tenure should be considered along with talent. This led to the apex committee laying a new parameter for the selection of CBI chiefs since then.
A look at the key judgments and comments made by Justice NV Ramana as the Chief Justice would reflect his steadfast determination to reform the judiciary and make justice accessible to one and all, as assured by the Constitution. He combined jurisprudence with humanitarianism. A foremost important order issued by the Supreme Court at Justice Ramana's initiative was the independent investigation by a former Supreme Court judge Justice RV Ravindran in the Pegasus case as it rocked the country. The intention was evident to protect people's right to privacy.
On the misuse of colonial-era sedition law, Justice NV Ramana very clearly ordered the Central and State governments to exercise restraint in registering FIRs under Section 124A until the Central government reviews it. He also clarified that those who are languishing in jails due to the cases filed under it can approach the courts for bail. In the Lakhimpur Kheri case, involving the running over of farmers by a car in Uttar Pradesh, Justice Ramana considered just a letter for ordering an independent probe, underlining the priority to be given to people's lives.
Also read: CJI NV Ramana, his journey and legacy reminisced as he retires from office
During Coronavirus, Justice Ramana took a case as suo motu and intervened in the matter of oxygen supply and vaccine prices. As a result, the government had to change its policy and announce a free vaccine for all those above 18. At that time, a Class V girl named Lidwina Joseph from Kerala wrote a letter to the CJI appreciating the court's intervention.
Justice Ramana was on the bench that brought the Chief Justice of India under the right to information law. In 2018, Justice NV Ramana questioned the Centre as to why the women officers were being harassed without forming a Permanent Commission for them in the Armed Forces. A secure electronic system called 'FASTER' has been made available to avoid delay in the release of the prisoners.
Justice Ramana ordered medical services to a Kerala journalist arrested under the stringent UAPA Act in Delhi. In Jharkhand, Dhanbad Additional District Judge Uttam Anand was hit and killed by an auto in broad daylight and a CBI investigation was ordered. The perpetrators of that atrocity were sentenced to undergo imprisonment.
Justice NV Ramana took a timely decision by ordering a special inquiry panel to look into the security lapses during PM Modi's visit to Punjab in January 2022. Recently, the Shiv Sena split case was handed over to the constitutional bench. Mediation was promoted as an alternative dispute resolution platform. On September 17, 2020, the bench headed by Justice Ramana ordered the High Courts of all the states in the Keerthi vs Oriental Insurance case that housewives should be given equal status with the income earners in the family. In the case of restrictions on internet services in Jammu and Kashmir, Justice NV Ramana ruled the internet is a fundamental right in this digital era.
