Constitutional morality must rise above customs, traditions, social ills: Justice Govind Mathur
Mangaluru: “Judiciary is ultimately a tool of the system. We have to buckle up and stand against social ills,” said Justice Govind Mathur, former Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court, delivering the B.V. Kakkilaya Inspired Oration 2025 at Ravindra Kalabhavana, University College campus, Mangaluru, on Sunday. He stressed that communalism, casteism, gender discrimination, and glorification of practices like Sati, among other issues, continue to undermine the values enshrined in the Constitution.
The lecture, organised as part of the National Conference on Secular and Social Justice Movements in Indian Democracy, focused on the theme ‘Balancing Constitutional and Social Morality in the Indian Context’. Justice Mathur argued that democracy cannot be reduced to periodic elections alone. “Certain people sitting in Parliament deciding the fate of scores of citizens is not merely constitutional democracy,” he said, adding that true democracy must ensure justice, equality, and fraternity as envisioned in the Preamble.
He further pointed out how B.R. Ambedkar emphasised that the Constitution is not merely a legal document but “a vehicle of life,” cautioning that it would fail if its principles were not applied to everyday living.
Describing the present scenario as alarming, he said India is in ‘a very sorry state of affairs,’ where forces promoting social ills are continuously giving them the colour of custom and tradition.
“While an Indian may adhere to their own religion, they must also create space for the freedom of other religions. No custom or tradition can go against constitutional morality; it is constitutional morality that is supreme, and the very nature of democracy is rooted in it,” he added.
Reflecting on 79 years of independence, Justice Mathur questioned whether India has truly reached the stature envisioned by the framers of the Constitution. “Not at all,” he said, pointing out that practices like Sati are still glorified in parts of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. He reminded that the Directive Principles of State Policy urge the nation to develop a scientific temper.
Calling for urgent action, Justice Mathur requested citizens to “protect healthy traditions and finish social ills,” warning that courts alone cannot dismantle regressive practices disguised as customs. “We have crossed the time of social crisis, there is real danger now,” he said, stressing that public awareness and collective will are essential to preserve secularism and equality.
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Pak police registers case against unidentified gunmen for opening fire on LeT co-founder
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Lahore (PTI): Pakistan's Punjab Police on Friday registered a case against unidentified gunmen for opening fire on Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) co-founder Amir Hamza, who suffered bullet injuries in the attack in Lahore.
On Thursday, two unidentified gunmen riding on a bike opened fire on the vehicle of the private TV channel 24NewsHD TV, owned by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, on Peco Road in Lahore near the TV channel's office.
In the attack, Hamza suffered bullet injuries.
"The FIR has been registered against unidentified gunmen, but it is sealed forthwith," a senior police officer told PTI.
He said the intelligence agencies have taken over this case from the police, and they are currently investigating the matter.
The channel's religious programme host Justice (retd.) Nazir Ahmed Ghazi and Hamza were in the vehicle when it was attacked. Hamza was shifted to a hospital for treatment.
Punjab police on Friday said that "upon receiving information about the incident, the SSP Operations immediately reached the scene and a high alert was imposed in the area. SSP Operations Tauqeer Naeem also met the affected individuals. Thankfully, all present in the vehicle remained safe during the firing."
It further said senior police officers of the Township and Chung, along with a heavy police contingent, were present at the scene.
"Police collected evidence from the site and initiated an investigation. Efforts to arrest the suspects are underway using CCTV footage and geo-fencing techniques. Search and sweep operations are being conducted at various locations, with scrutiny of suspicious individuals ongoing," police said.
It added that those involved in the incident will be traced and arrested soon.
The police sources said that Hamza has been shifted to his residence in Jauhar Town, Lahore, where police and agency personnel met him.
The leadership of the Pakistan Markazi Muslim League (PMML), a political front of Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed's banned Jamat-ud-Dawah (JuD), including Hafiz Saeed's son Hafiz Talha Saeed, also called on him.
TV host retired Justice Ghazi, who remained unhurt in the attack, remained a legal counsel for Hafiz Saeed, they said.
The PMML has strongly condemned the attack on Hamza and demanded that those involved in the incident be arrested immediately.
Hamza is regarded as LeT's second most important leader after its chief Hafiz Saeed, who has been in Lahore's Kot Lakhpat Jail since 2019 after getting convicted for several years in terror financing cases.
Hamza has been designated as a terrorist by the US. In the past, he served as the head of LeT's "special campaigns" department.
In 2018, Hamza formed a fundraising group for the LeT following a ban on the JuD and Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation by the Pakistani government.
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