Justice Donadi Ramesh on Wednesday reflected on the difficulties faced by him while serving as a judge of the Allahabad High Court where lawyers often argued in Hindi.

Justice Ramesh was repatriated to his parent High Court, the Andhra Pradesh High Court this week.

In his farewell speech at the Allahabad High Court, where he served on transfer since July 2023, Justice Ramesh candidly spoke about the challenges faced by him due to his lack of fluency in Hindi.

He said he was privileged to serve in the "court of great legacy" but he remained conscious of this "personal limitation" of his.

"I knew that this could present challenges, not only inside the courtroom but also outside of it. For a judge, language is not merely a tool. It is the very instrument of justice; every word matters. Thus to serve in a region where the local language is not one’s own requires both courage and humility," Justice Ramesh, a High Court judge since 2020, said.

Justice Ramesh added that he felt this limitation most directly in the courtroom as lawyers presented their arguments in nuanced Hindi. However, he also expressed gratitude to the counsel for their patience.

"In the courtroom, this limitation was felt most directly. Counsel argued passionately and often in rapid Hindi, presenting nuanced legal and factual submissions. While the judgments were in English, the records and living dialogue of the courtroom was predominantly in Hindi. There were moments when I had to strain to capture the nuance or request repetition. At such times, I wondered whether my lack of fluency might create a distance between me and the arguments placed before me but every such difficulty was met with the patience of the Bar and the courtesy of counsel who took care to ensure that their arguments were understood."

Justice Ramesh also said that the language barrier also caused a delay in writing judgments. However, he said the "longer preparation and attentive listening" in courtroom was a responsibility and not a burden.

"The preparation of judgments too came with its own challenges. Though the judgments were written in English, a judge must fully grasp the submissions made in court. The task before me was that no nuance was lost in translation. This often required longer preparation and attentive listening in court. What might have taken less time for others, required more for me. Yet, I considered this not as a burden but a responsibility." 

But justice cannot be compromised merely because a judge has a limitation of language, Justice Ramesh added.

He also highlighted how the language created a gap between him and court staff, even as the latter ensured their support and cooperation.

"The registry, staff, court officials too were accustomed to functioning largely in Hindi. In day-to-day interactions, small difficulties would arise, sometimes in understanding and sometimes in expression. Yet , never did I feel handicapped because they too went out of their way to bridge the gap. Their support and cooperation ensured that the smooth functioning of the court was never interrupted." 

However, Justice Ramesh said, the realization of this language barrier was not limited to the courtroom but extended to the outside social life.

He said he was reminded of his "outsider status" in informal conversations but it never led to any isolation, thanks to other judges.

"Outside the court in social and cultural life, the barrier of language was also evident. In informal conversations in local gatherings and even in simple day-to-day exchanges, I was often reminded of my outsider status, yet this never turned into isolation because of my brother judges..."

On what it meant to serve in Uttar Pradesh, Justice Ramesh said that the entire experience had taught him a proud lesson that justice knows no language and that the principles of fairness, equity and compassion transcends linguistic boundaries.

"A litigant does not seek judgment in a particular language; he seeks fairness, understanding and relief. In that sense, language is the medium but justice is the message," he said.

He further commented that while words may differ, the essence of justice remains universal.

"My tenure here also made me reflect deeply on the unity and diversity of our judicial system. Each High Court has its own language, traditions and local culture, yet together they form one unified system under the Constitution. Serving outside my home state gave me the rare opportunity to witness this diversity firsthand," he added.

At the end of his speech, Justice Ramesh said that as he returns to his home State on transfer, there is naturally "a sense of comfort in returning to friendlier surroundings and my mother tongue".

However, he also acknowledged a sense of parting from a place where he received so much of goodwill and respect.

"I leave Prayagraj with humility and gratitude, Humility because I am conscious of my limitation and the effort it took to overcome them. Gratitude because despite those limitations, I was accepted here as one of yours own," he said.