Constitution's survival linked to India's demographic profile: Madras HC Judge
Chennai, Apr 6: The Indian Constitution's survival hinges on the nation's demographic profile and if it is altered, then it would cease to exist, Judge, Madras High Court, Justice GR Swaminathan has said.
Addressing an event, Justice Swaminathan made a quick reference to the making of the Constitution between 1947-49 and its coming into force in 1950.
The Judge said: "For all of us, the ultimate is only the Constitution authored by Dr B R Ambedkar and I say this happily with pride. There is Contitutional morality and we must not go beyond it at all."
Just before making a comment on Constitution vis-a-vis the nation's demography, he said his view could turn out to be "slightly controversial" but he was not "very much worried about it" as he had already made a mention on the mater in one of his judgments.
He said: "If this Constitution is to continue as it is for all the time to come, I am emphasising this, when the Constitution was made, we had a demographic profile of our own. Only till such time this demographic profile continues, this Constitution will survive as it is; if this demographic profile is altered, this Constitution will cease to exist."
Therefore, for the Constitution to survive for all times the demographic profile should continue to be as it is, he said.
The Constitution could survive only if people belonging to "Bharatiya Dharma and Samprataya" continue to be within its fold, he said. "I am a Judge and I cannot say anything more. You should understand," he said.
Justice Swaminathan's comment drew both flak and praise in social media. Rajya Sabha MP and former Union Minister Kapil Sibal tweeted saying, "The constitution may not survive if judges have such a mindset."
On April 2, the Judge took part in a function here to release three books based on spiritual themes. It includes "Tiruppavayil Naveena Melanmai Padam." It menas "Modern management lesson in Tiruppavai."
A devotional poem, Tiruppavai is revered and it is authored by the only woman among 12 Alavars, who are Tamil Vaishnavite saints.
The Judge said, to take forward the work on Bharatiya Dharma, reading such books authored by Makara Sadagopan would be useful.
Justice Swaminathan in his address recounted two incidents from his experience and said it was to show that "we have moved away." This is perceived as divergence from the nation's culture and heritage and not giving due importance to learning one's mother tongue despite claiming to be an enthusiast of the Tamil language.
The Judge said he considered the books that are released as an attempt aimed at fostering harmony by bridging the culture gap.
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ED raids in BBMP an outcome of squabbling in BJP, says Deputy CM Shivakumar
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Wednesday claimed that the ED raids in the 'Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike' was an outcome of infighting in the BJP.
The ED on Tuesday searched the offices of Engineer-in-Chief B S Prahlad and other engineers in the BBMP in connection with the borewells and Reverse Osmosis plants in the areas where Cauvery water connection has not been provided, sources in civic agency said.
The raids were based on a complaint by a BJP leader and former BBMP Councillor N R Ramesh to the Anti-Corruption Bureau. The ACB later referred the case to the ED.
"It's an internal fight in the BJP. A BJP leader had given a complaint against his own party MLAs because he was denied a ticket (to contest assembly election)," Shivakumar told reporters here.
He said he had instructed the BBMP officials about one and a half years ago to be prepared for the possible raids and provide whatever documents the ED officials would ask for.
"We will cooperate with them. There is nothing wrong in it. I don't know the details but officers yesterday told me about it," Shivakumar said.
The Deputy CM said when documents are provided under the Right to Information to everyone, the ED officials will also be given the same. He added that those committed wrong will be punished.
Regarding the dinner meeting hosted by the MLAs from SC/ST community being cancelled, he said he has no information about it.
Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Tuesday said that the dinner meeting of Congress leaders, ministers and lawmakers from SC/ST communities that was called on January 8, has been postponed following an instruction from a AICC general secretary in-charge of Karnataka, Randeep Singh Surjewala.
The next date of the meeting will be informed later, Parameshwara said in a statement.
The meeting was scheduled within a week after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's dinner with select Dalit and ST Cabinet colleagues that had created buzz within the ruling Congress, amid speculation over a change of guard in the state after March this year.
According to party sources, Deputy Chief Minister and state Congress president D K Shivakumar had met AICC general secretary (Organisation) K C Venugopal in Delhi and discussed the developments.
