Country shall thrive only when its citizens are aware of what Constitution envisages: CJI Ramana
Raipur(PTI): Chief Justice of India (CJI) N V Ramana on Sunday said a constitutional republic shall thrive only when its citizens are aware of what their Constitution envisages.
He emphasized that every individual must be made aware of their rights and duties, and that it should be the endeavour of the law graduates to explain to the people the constitutional provisions in simpler terms.
Addressing the fifth convocation of Hidayatullah National Law University (HNLU) Raipur at a hotel here, he also termed law as an instrument of social change and said law school education must turn graduates into social engineers.
"This generation of youngsters is taking the world by revolution. Be it the climate crisis or violation of human rights, they are a united force across the world. Truly, the technological revolution has made each one of us global citizens," the CJI said, adding that it was time for all of them to join the revolution.
Underlining the role of youth in achieving social transformation through the rule of law and the Constitution, he said, "The sad reality is that the supreme document which defines the aspirations of modern independent India is confined to the knowledge of law students, legal practitioners, and a very small segment of the Indian population."
"The Constitution is meant for every citizen. Every individual must be made aware of their rights and duties. We have a collective duty to promote constitutional culture and raise awareness. It should be your endeavour to explain the constitutional provisions in simpler terms and assimilate its ethos into the minds of the people," he said.
"A constitutional republic shall only thrive when its citizens are aware of what their Constitution envisages," he added.
Describing the law profession as "immensely challenging, intellectually stimulating and incredibly satisfying", the CJI said, "The legal profession has not completely emerged out of old days, but the importance of pedigree, family history and hereditary legal practice is slowly fading out."
Youngsters, who are first generation lawyers, are shining and are reaching greater heights in the profession through their sheer hard work and commitment, he added.
"...A lawyer is not a mere representative before the court. Simply knowing a statute will not help you in the long run. Your clients may expect you to be aware about different facets of business, society or even sports. A lawyer needs to be an all rounder, a leader and a change-maker. Remember that new ways of thinking may invite criticism. But do not allow such criticism to bother you," CJI Ramana added.
Law school education must turn graduates into social engineers, because the law is an instrument of social change, he said.
"The most vulnerable are often the victims of human rights violations, either by the State or by anti-social elements. As young advocates, you are best placed to strongly oppose the same through legal action. Society needs your able assistance in the dispensation of inexpensive justice to the needy," he said.
Citing that legal aid services in India are the largest in the world, the CJI said, "We need young talented minds to steer the movement in the right direction."
"I urge you all to take up as many pro-bono cases as possible In your chase for material wealth, do not forget the power of change that lies within you. You must have a vision of the world you want to live in. But a vision is not enough. You must create it by standing up and fighting for it," he added.
Meanwhile, the CJI also congratulated Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel saying that he has heard that the Chhattisgarh government was taking ample care of the infrastructural and budgetary needs of the judicial community in the state.
He hoped that this trend continues and Chhattisgarh emerges as one of the role models in providing best infrastructure to the judiciary.
CM Baghel was the guest of honour, while Supreme Court judge Justice S Abdul Nazeer presided over the programme. Chhattisgarh High Court Chief Justice Arup Kumar Goswami was also present.
An HNLU public relations officer said, 60 students from the BA LLB (Hons) (batch of 2015-2020), 147 from the BA LLB (Hons) (2016-2021), 49 from the LLM (2019 2020) and 61 students from the LLM (2020-2021) were awarded degrees, while four students were conferred PhD.
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Sexual assault case: ‘Big whale’ behind leaking explicit videos, says HD Kumaraswamy
Bengaluru, May 14: JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy on Tuesday alleged that there was a "big whale" behind the leaking of explicit videos of women being sexually abused allegedly by his nephew and party MP from Hassan Prajwal Revanna.
Kumaraswamy’s swipe was apparently against Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who refused to comment on it.
Talking to reporters about the Prajwal Revanna case, the JD(S) second-in-command said an MLA from Mandya said ‘large whales’ were behind releasing the video.
When asked to explain who the ‘big whale’ is, Kumaraswamy said, “Who else it is? Today an MLA from Mandya spoke about ‘big whale’. Whatever the ‘big whale’ is saying, the same is followed by the ‘small whales’.”
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He said that listening to the arguments of the lawyers it appears prima facie that the arrest of MLA H D Revanna, Kumaraswamy's brother, was "politics of hate".
The government initiated action against Revanna to spoil the reputation of former prime minister Deve Gowda, the former chief minister alleged.
He asked how anyone would catch the ‘big whale’ when he is in government.
Reacting to Kumaraswamy's remarks, Shivakumar said, “Let him (Kumaraswamy) arrest and swallow the ‘big whale’. I am neither director nor producer. I am only an exhibitor, theatre exhibitor.”
On Kumaraswamy’s charges that Revanna was arrested to defame Deve Gowda, the deputy chief minister said, “Not at all. See, I too feel sorry for him (Revanna). I too feel that such things should not happen. It’s such a big family. Let them think whatever they want but I don’t wish anything bad for anyone and I don’t need it.”
Shivakumar, who is also Congress Karnataka unit president, said he believed in the law of nature and he too had suffered a lot.
“I too faced political conspiracy. I know how strong and full of self-confidence I am. That’s the reason that god protected me,” he said.
Revanna, who is the elder son of JD(S) patriarch and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, was arrested along with his confidant Sathish Babanna for allegedly abducting a woman on April 29.
The case was registered on a complaint filed by the woman's son, who alleged that his mother was sexually abused by Revanna's son and JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna.
The woman was allegedly abducted to prevent her from testifying against Prajwal, police sources said.
The explicit videos of alleged sexual abuse by Prajwal had been making the rounds on social media, and the Government formed the SIT on April 28 to probe the case after the Karnataka State Commission for Women wrote a letter to the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah seeking an investigation into it.
The 33-year-old Prajwal, who was the NDA candidate in the Hassan Lok Sabha constituency, reportedly left the country on April 27, a day after the elections, and has skipped the SIT summons to appear before it.
Interpol has issued a Blue Corner Notice against the "absconding" MP, who is facing sexual abuse charges.
A Blue Corner Notice is issued to collect information from member countries about a person’s identity, location or activities in relation to a crime.
H D Revanna was released on bail on Tuesday.
