Upa Lokayukta likens corrupt people to masked terrorists

He says they are hindering country’s development

Davangere: “Those who kill innocent citizens and create fear in the country are terrorists. But corrupt people among us are also masked terrorists and are a hindrance to the development of the country”, said Upa Lokayukta Justice B Veerappa.

He noted this while delivering a lecture and interacting with lawyers on the ‘Role of lawyers under the Public Administration and Lokayukta Act-1984’ organised by the District Legal Services Authority and the District Bar Association to mark Ambedkar Jayanti celebrations at the Lawyers Cultural Community Hall in the District Court complex in Davangere on Wednesday.

Lamenting increasing corruption in the legislative, executive, judicial and media, Veerappa called upon conscious lawyers to raise their voice against corruption.

“Lawyers should go to every village through the Lawyers’ Bar Association and provide legal aid to the poor and the weaker sections of society. A lot of changes can be seen in society if lawyers try to solve local problems,” he opined.

He said the failure of lawyers is the main reason for corruption in the judicial sector. The sector will improve if lawyers work honestly. Polluted and waste water is openly discharged into rivers and lakes, forests are destroyed and lakes are encroached upon. Lawyers should take action to prevent such acts, he suggested.

‘If we protect Constitution, the Constitution will protect us’

Terming the Constitution a national epic, he said everyone should be committed to its protection.

“As the saying goes, ‘Dharmo Rakshati Rakshitah’ (Dharma protects those who protect it), I propose ‘Samvidhan Rakshati Rakshitah’. If we protect the Constitution, the Constitution will protect us. We all should act so that the aspirations and principles of the Constitution are not violated. If the Constitution is shaken, there will be tremors in the country. If there is no Constitution, anarchy will prevail. Our Constitution, along with granting human rights, has proclaimed the principles of freedom, justice, equality and brotherhood to the world. Social justice is the lifeblood of the Constitution,” he said.

He said from the beginning, there have been three classes in the country based on the Constitution. The first class has been opposing the Constitution drafted by Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. The other class has been ruling in the name of the Constitution but not fulfilling the aspirations of the Constitution. The last class is eagerly waiting for the aspirations of the Constitution to be fulfilled.

At the event, a minute’s silence was observed to pay homage to the civilians who were killed in the terrorist attack in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir.

As part of World Book Day, Upa Lokayukta B Veerappa released the works of ‘Bhimayana’ penned by Dr Anupama and Basu, and ‘Arive Ambedkar’ published by Edina.com.

District Bar Association President L H Arunkumar spoke on the occasion. Vice-president G K Basavaraj Gopanal welcomed the gathering. 

Principal District and Sessions Judge and District Legal Services Authority President Vela D K, Karnataka Lokayukta Additional Registrars K M Rajashekar, V N Milan, Aravind N V, District Legal Services Authority Member Secretary Mahaveer Karennavar, District Bar Association Secretary S Basavaraj, Joint Secretary A S Manjunath, executive committee members and law students were present.