Imposition of Emergency has long lasting impact on generations: Justice Ramana

By Sumit Saxena New Delhi, Jan 23 : Justice N.V. Ramana of the Supreme Court, the judge who is due to become the next Chief Justice of India (CJI), said on Saturday that emergencies have a long-lasting impact on generations.
Ramana was speaking at the launch of a book titled “The Law of Emergency Powers: Comparative Common Law Perspectives”, authored by senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi and professor Khagesh Gautam.
Before beginning his speech as a judge, Ramana said he has to place a caveat that he is required to be a little more circumspect while discussing thoughts on a legal subject where the law is not so well settled, and it is contestable.
He opened his speech citing his personal experience during the Emergency. “At the outset, the book brought back memories of the 1975 Emergency. In June 25, 1975, a public meeting was organised in my hometown on civil liberties. I was the presiding officer of this meeting, and I was about to step out of the house when my father told me to pack an extra pair of clothes, as he was convinced that I will be arrested during the function,” he said.
Later, when he reached the venue, a friend informed him that police were arresting people, and took him to the outskirts and told him that the government will proclaim Emergency.
Ramana said they took a lorry and travelled for two-three hours, and then walked all night to reach his maternal aunt’s house. “I had Rs 10 in my pocket. In the hindsight maybe, my father should have given some more extra money,” he said.