Suttur, December 20, 2019: “Values like contentment and humanity are declining day by day among humans and as a result, the society is being ruined,” opined former Lokayukta and former Justice of the Hon’ble Supreme Court Sri N. Santosh Hegde.
He participated in a special lecture and interaction programme held at the JSS Residential School, in Suttur, on December 20, 2019. Addressing the students he said, “While the Jeep scam of the 1950s was around Rs. 51,000, the amount of the recent tollgate coal scam is more than Rs. 1,76,000 crore! It appears development is happening in the form of scams where the number of zeros is increasing,” he lamented.
“One of our former Prime Minister had said that due to height of corruption only 15 paise in a rupee is reaching the beneficiary. Development will not happen where there is greed. Corruption has rooted deeply in the pillars of our constitution like legislation and executive. Sometimes I feel even the most important pillar of our constitution, the judiciary is also on the wrong path due to delay in reaching out justice to the people. Whereas the fourth pillar, the Press/Media also has started receiving bribes and presenting news accordingly. In such a condition who will develop the country?,” he questioned and advised the students to inculcate values like contentment and humanity.
Later he interacted with the students. Replying to a question by one of the students who asked why there is no retirement age for politicians, he replied, “No country on this earth has fixed retirement age for politicians with an objective that let the country get the benefits of the long experience of politicians. The politicians should not use the students for their benefit. It is not possible to prevent corruption only by law, youth should make their mind. Nobody should take law in their hands. The court will punish the criminals, not the officials. But at the same time an innocent person should not be penalised,” he opined.
In his address, Paramapujya Jagadguru Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra Mahaswamiji observed that when every person starts questioning their inner souls as they do in public we can find improvement. “Instead of talking ourselves that time has become very bad, we should introspect ourselves whether it is the time or ourselves who have become bad. When every person tries to be honest, the number of corrupt people decreases by that number,” he opined.
Prof. G. Hemanth Kumar, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Mysore expressed his view that corruption is deep-rooted in the government sector. “I feel surprised when I see people who make recommendations to get a government job despite knowing that the salary is less. The students should understand that education is not just to earn a government job. We can see change in this society only when we adopt values,” he said.
Sri S.P. Udayashankar, Administrative Officer, Dr. Arun Balamatti, Head, JSS ICAR KVK, Sri G.L.Tripurantaka, Sri Veerabhadraiah, Dr. M.C. Nataraj, Sri K.V. Rao, Sri G. Shivamallu, Sri B.M. Siddappa, and Smt. C.P. Nirmala, Heads of various departments of the JSS Residential School, Suttur, were present.
Earlier the programme commenced with an invocation by the school students. While Sri Andaiah Shiruru welcomed, Sri Mahadevaprasad gave a vote of thanks and Sri L. Tripurantaka compered.
Former Supreme Court Justice Sri N. Santosh Hegde addressing the students during a special lecture and interaction programme held at the JSS Residential School, in Suttur. Paramapujya Jagadguru Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra Swamiji and Prof. G. Hemanth Kumar, Vice Chancellor, University of Mysore are seen in the picture.