[1] Rao was born in Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh on 2 December 1935.
Rao enrolled as an advocate in 1960, and practiced on the High Court of Andhra Pradesh for 22 years.
Rao retired as Judge of Supreme Court of India on 2 December 2000.
[2] His son Justice M. S. Ramachandra Rao is currently a Judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court.
[citation needed] Rao died on 25 November 2024, at the age of 88.