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N. V. Ramana Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 29, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth27 August 1957

Age65 Years

BirthplacePonnavaram, Andhra Pradesh

ProfessionJudge (Supreme Court of India)

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseShivamala

FamilyDaughters: N. V. Tanuja, N. V. Bhuvana

N. V. Ramana Biography

Nuthalapati Venkata Ramana is an Indian jurist who served as the 48th Chief Justice of India. Born in Ponnavaram, Andhra Pradesh, he rose from practice at

Early life and background

N. V. Ramana, full name Nuthalapati Venkata Ramana, was born on 27 August 1957 in Ponnavaram, Andhra Pradesh. He grew up in an agrarian family in that region and later pursued higher education at Acharya Nagarjuna University, Guntur, where he completed a B.Sc. and a Bachelor of Laws.

Career

Ramana began his legal career in 1983 when he started practicing as an advocate in the High Court of Andhra Pradesh on 10 February 1983. Over the years he built a practice that covered civil, criminal, constitutional, labour, service and election matters. He also served on panels of counsel for government bodies, including roles as Additional Standing Counsel for the Central Government and standing counsel for the Railways before the Central Administrative Tribunal in Hyderabad.

In June 2000 he was appointed a permanent judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court. He served there for more than a decade, including a period as Acting Chief Justice from March to May 2013. He became Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court in September 2013 and was elevated to the Supreme Court of India as a judge in February 2014.

On 24 April 2021 Ramana assumed office as the 48th Chief Justice of India, following recommendation by his predecessor. He retired from that role on 26 August 2022, bringing to a close judicial service that extended from 1983 to 2022.

Notable judgments and judicial approach

Throughout his time on the bench Ramana participated in a number of high-profile and consequential decisions. He was part of rulings that recognized access to the internet as a fundamental right and addressed restrictions imposed during the revocation of Jammu & Kashmir’s special status, including issues around mobile internet access in the region.

He set parameters on the use of curfew powers under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code, cautioning that such provisions should not be used to suppress legitimate expression or democratic rights. In a multi-judge matter he placed the right to information and the right to privacy on comparable footing, and in other opinions he emphasized cooperative federalism in the implementation of national welfare legislation.

Ramana also contributed to jurisprudence on electoral law and political disqualification under the Tenth Schedule, clarifying aspects of post-defection eligibility to contest elections. His judgments addressed the dignity of prisoners and the standards required to establish a defence based on mental unsoundness, insisting on rigorous evidentiary proof. In a notable 2021 decision he observed that domestic work performed by a homemaker is not inferior to paid employment and that recognition and compensation for such services merit consideration.

Public profile

Beyond the courtroom, Ramana engaged with legal institutions and access-to-justice initiatives. He was a member of the General Council of the National Law School of India University, Bangalore, and chaired the Library Committee at the Indian Law Institute in Delhi. He served as executive chairman of the National Legal Services Authority, participating in programs such as state-level E-Lok Adalats that pursued large-scale case settlements.

Personal life

Ramana is married to Shivamala. The couple have two daughters, N. V. Tanuja and N. V. Bhuvana. He is Indian by nationality and his stated hometown is Ponnavaram, Andhra Pradesh.

Interests and other notes

Before entering the law, Ramana spent time as a journalist, working for the Eenadu newspaper from 1979 to 1980. He is reported to have interests in literature and philosophy and is known to read in his leisure time.

Controversies and public matters

During his career, Ramana was named in public allegations related to administrative matters and his family. Complaints and an FIR concerning land transactions involving his daughters were reported in 2020. Political criticism regarding court sittings was also publicly raised in 2020 and addressed by senior counsel at the time.

Latest updates

Ramana retired as Chief Justice of India on 26 August 2022, concluding a judicial tenure that included service on the Andhra Pradesh High Court, the Delhi High Court, the Supreme Court of India, and as Chief Justice of India.
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Recent Work

48th Chief Justice of India

Served as Chief Justice of India from 24 April 2021 to 26 August 2022.

2021-2022
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Career Highlights

  1. Permanent judge of Andhra Pradesh High Court (June 2000)
  2. Acting Chief Justice of Andhra Pradesh High Court (March–May 2013)
  3. Chief Justice of Delhi High Court (September 2013–February 2014)
  4. Judge of the Supreme Court of India (February 2014–April 2021)
  5. 48th Chief Justice of India (April 2021–August 2022)
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was N. V. Ramana born?

27 August 1957

What is N. V. Ramana known for?

Judge (Supreme Court of India)

What is N. V. Ramana’s marital status?

Married

Who is N. V. Ramana married to?

Shivamala