Secular constitution has helped India stay ahead of its neighbours : Justice Katju

Mangalore Today Network

Mangalore, Dec 4, 2012 : “India has progressed much better than its neighbouring nations, mainly owing to its secular constitution,” said Justice Markandeya Katju, Chairman of Press Council of India.

He was delivering the sixth silver jubilee endowment lecture on ‘Constitutional Jurisprudence’ at the SDM  Law  College and Centre for Post Graduate Studies and Research in Law, in Mangalore on December 4, Tuesday.

 

 

Justice Katju further said  if India has to remain united, it is utmost essential  to treat all its communities, religions and ethnic groups  equally.  The Constitution has guaranteed this through Articles 14 to 18 and 25, he said. Emphasizing the need for economic unity in the country, Justice Katju said this was a must to provide a huge market  for the modern industry. “ The modern industry is essential to generate wealth and to alleviate poverty,” he further added.

Pointing out that it was due to the tremendous efforts of great national leaders like Pandit Nehru that the nation remained secular, Justice Katju  said there might have been great pressure on leaders like Nehru to declare India a Hindu state.”Still,  India was  declared a secular state only because of the greatness of the then leaders,” he observed.

During the interactive session,  Justice Katju delved on the Jana Lokpal Bill and said the Bill which proposes to include over two crore Central government employees was unfeasible as it may lead to heavy inflow of complaints in turn contributing to corruption.

B Yashovarma, Secretary of Ujire SDM Educational Society felicitated Justice Katju on the occasion. He also released a journal ‘SDM Law News.’   

Rajeev Ranjan Nag. Press Council of India Member, Dr Taranath, Co-ordinator and  BK Ravindra, Principal of SDM Law College,  were on the dais.

 Meghna Ballal compered the programme.