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.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Real Madrid fines Valverde and Tchouaméni half a million euros each for altercation
Barcelona (AP): Real Madrid slapped players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni with half-a-million-euro ($588,000) fines on Friday for their altercation during practice.
The massive fines came a day after the midfielders tussled when the team trained. Valverde said in a post on social media on Thursday that no punches were thrown. But Valverde knocked his head on a table and he suffered a small cut that required a brief hospital visit.
On social media, Valverde initially called it a “meaningless fight” with a teammate and said “everything has been blown out of proportion."
His employers, however, considered it a significant enough breach of team discipline to nail both Valverde and Tchouaméni with fines that bite even the bank account of a top soccer player. The half-a-million euro penalties reflect the reputational damage the club was enduring in a chaotic end to a disappointing season.
In a statement, the 15-time European champion said its disciplinary action was concluded after both players expressed to the club “their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to one another.”
Madrid added they also apologized to their teammates, the coaching staff and club supporters, as well as showing their willingness to accept whatever disciplinary action the club deemed “opportune.”
Tchouaméni was back training with Madrid on Friday, two days before they play at Barcelona in a clasico. Madrid has to win otherwise Barcelona will be crowned La Liga champion.
After being notified of the fine, he posted a public apology to the club and its fans on social media.
“What happened this week in training is unacceptable,” Tchouaméni wrote. "I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school.
“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club.”
Valverde was not at practice due to the head knock.
Both players are set to play in the World Cup next month, with Tchouaméni playing for France and Valverde for Uruguay.
Chaotic end to a poor season
===================
The run-in between the players, who for seasons have played side by side in Madrid's midfield, came after they argued this week in previous training sessions. But tempers boiled over on Thursday. Spanish media was rife with reports that the players previously disagreed over the club's decision to let coach Xabi Alonso go after just months on the job.
It was not the only altercation involving Madrid players during training this week. Álvaro Carreras confirmed he was in a “minor” incident with a teammate. Spanish media said he and fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger got into a scuffle.
Álvaro Arbeloa, the coach who was promoted from Madrid's reserve team when Alonso was fired in January, will face tough questions on what went wrong inside the changing room when he gives a press conference on Saturday ahead of the clasico at Camp Nou.
Madrid is facing a second consecutive campaign without a major trophy amid rumors in the Spanish media that club president Florentino Pérez is considering bringing back Jose Mourinho to straighten out his underperforming team.
