Updated: October 18, 2020 7:41:00 am
Andhra CM Jagan Mohan Reddy and Justice NV Ramana
Days after Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s letter to Chief Justice of India SA Bobde raised allegations of wrongdoing Against him, Judge NV Ramana said Saturday that “it is an important quality for a judge to resist all pressures and obstacles and to bravely face all obstacles” and that “a vibrant and independent judiciary … is required in current times. ” Speaking at a condolences meeting for former Supreme Court Justice Justice AR Lakshmanan, who passed away on August 27, Justice Ramana, next in line to be the CJI, said: “There are countless qualities that a person you need to live what can be called a good life: humility, patience, kindness, a strong work ethic and the enthusiasm to constantly learn and improve ”.
“The most important thing, especially for a judge, must be firm in sticking to principles and not being afraid in decisions. It is an important quality for a judge to resist all pressures and obstacles and bravely face all obstacles, ”he said.
The comments come a week after Jagan Mohan Reddy’s senior adviser, Ajeya Kallam, released the CM’s October 6 letter to the CJI to the media, alleging that Judge Ramana “has been influencing the sessions of the High Court (of Andhra Pradesh), including the list of some honorable Judges ”. The letter alleged judicial irregularities on the part of Judge Ramana and raised questions about certain land transactions that allegedly involved members of his family.
Reddy’s letter to the CJI came at a time when he is facing mounting legal pressure. The bank headed by Judge Ramana is listening to a request from lawyer Ashwini Upadhyay, who seeks to expedite pending criminal cases against sitting and former legislators.
It was after an order from this court that proceedings against Reddy, in a disproportionate assets case, were resumed in a CBI Special Court in Hyderabad on October 9. The following day, Kallam, Reddy’s Senior Advisor, released the CM’s letter to the CJI.
Speaking at the meeting on Saturday, Judge Ramana recalled what a saint said about the contemporary significance of Lord Rama.
“So people worship Rama not for his success in life, but for the grace with which he handled the most difficult times. That is what is valued; that’s the highest value in life. “
“It is not the question of how much you have, what you did, what happened or what didn’t happen. Whatever happens, how did you behave? That is what determines the quality of who you are ”, quoted the saint.
“Our values are ultimately our greatest asset and we must never forget them. Judge Lakshmanan wore his values on his sleeve and I learned immensely from him about being a good person and a judge, ”Judge Ramana said.
He recalled that Judge Lakshmanan had said that “we, the members of the judicial hierarchy, have inherited the legacy of a collective effort dedicated by the Court and the Bar Association to establish an unwavering tradition of high efficiency, perfect integrity and fearless independence.” .
“We as judges must remember and appreciate him” and “we must all be inspired by his words, and we must strive to engage a vibrant and independent judiciary that is required in today’s times,” he said.
“The greatest strength of the judiciary is the people’s faith in it” and that “faith, trust and acceptability cannot be imposed, they must be earned,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Executive Committee of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), in a resolution, “strongly condemned the action of … Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh by publishing his letter” to the CJI “making accusations against Judge Ramana … in public domain “.
“Such actions by constitutional officials,” said the SCBA, “oppose the conventions that cause serious incursions affecting the independence of the judiciary, as enshrined in the Constitution of India.”
However, SCBA President Dushyant Dave is known to have opposed the resolution, saying that only an investigation of the allegations, if carried out, can establish whether the allegations against the judge are true or false, and approve. a resolution at this stage is premature. .
The President and Chief Advocate of the Indian Bar Association (AIBA), Adish C Aggarwala, also condemned the Chief Minister’s “defamatory and scandalous remarks” against Judge Ramana and the judges of the Andhra Pradesh High Court. Aggarwala urged the CJI to initiate contempt of court proceedings against Reddy.
📣 The Indian Express is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@indianexpress) and keep up to date with the latest headlines
For the latest news about India, download the Indian Express app.
© The Indian Express (P) Ltd
.
