Say A Resolute No To Corruption, says Justice Hegde !

Say A Resolute No To Corruption, says Justice Hegde !

Former Lokayukhtha Justice Santosh  Hegde called upon the student community to fight for ending corruption in society.

"I have come not to ask for votes, but to seek your support to fight corruption" said  Justice Hegde (72) in his opening remarks.

Addressing the gathering of New Horizon College, Bangalore, on Thursday afternoon (19/07/2012) Justice Hegde remarked the “galloping speed with which corruption has surged in our country”. "In 1950, Rs.100/- was considered a huge bribe amount and only a handful of cases would be reported. Even the District Collector’s salary then used to be about Rs.300/-.  Just see the contrast – in 2010, 2Gscam alone accounted for Rs.176,000 crore even when compared to Bofors scam figure of Rs.64 crore",  he recalled.

“In 2008, Govt. of Switzerland made a public statement that banks in Switzerland has US$1,456 billion of Indian deposits.  Interest on this total deposit alone can wipe out Indian budget deficit plus all our foreign debt in 24 hours.  Supreme Court directed  the Government of India to take the money out, noting nothing much happened after it”, he said highlighting the enormity of the stash money.

Referring to the way our democratic system is functioning, “how many of us can boldly and proudly say this is my/our  government?" he posed.  This democracy is for some people, by some people and of some people”,  languished  the Justice.

Citing a parliamentarian’s remark in the House who questioned the “audacity” of the man (Anna Hazare) to call the Prime Minister, a public servant, the former Justice  said the nation does not belong to legislature, bureaucracy or judiciary, but to WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA.  “Who am I” will be the title when he writes an autobiography, he added.

He also observed the haste in which business was conducted in the parliament, mentioning  that “17 Bills were passed in Lok Sabha within 12minutes. Who discussed the bills? Fortunately  it did not go through in Rajya  Sabha”.

He expressed concern on the deplorable current state of affairs that continues even after 62 years of independence and urged the need for reforms on various fronts like, electoral, judicial, police and medical ... to name a few. He strongly recommended that the performance audit of the elected representatives must be drawn  and published; 51 per cent of the votes to  be polled for getting elected; not to be permitted to contest if there are any criminal cases pending against them.

A few sprinklers out of the Justice mouth:

-In the pornography episode  which "caught" three ministers of Karnataka, the then Chief Minister’s defence was that 23 opposition  also watched pornography.  Why not have a big screen on the floor so that all can see it?.. quipped the Justice.

-In government hospitals, go vertically and return horizontally!

-It takes minimum 10 years for the case of prevention of corruption Act when it comes up for hearing. 10 years is a long time, by which evidence would disappear.
- Currency is softer than corruption.

-Out of every rupee spent by the government only 15 paise goes to the actual beneficiary.

-Out of 542 members, only 192 spoke in the parliament.

-Corrupt people are not human beings – homosapiens of a man or woman

-Corruption is born with the birth of civilization.

-I am proud to make a statement that I am the only SC judge after retirement to have come to streets to fight against corruption.
-"Become anything you want to become, But first become human".

In his address, Mr. Prithivi Reddy, Core Member, India Against Corruption furnished data from the affidavits of MPs/MLAs: Out of 4,835 MLAs/MPs – 1,498 or 31 per cent have criminal cases against them; 50 lakh bogus ration cards detected in Karnataka.  "We live in cocoon, it could burst any time", Mr. Reddy cautioned, adding that "Patriotism is not just fighting a war, but fight for what is right for the country".

Mr. Mohan Manghnani, Chairman, New Horizon Educational Institution exhorted the students to actively take part in the activities of India Against Corruption.  Mr. Maghnani believes in having “multiple dreams and striving to fulfill them for a society free of corruption”.

Mr. Jawahar Mirazkar, Principal: “New Horizon provides a platform for its students’ overall development and grooms them to be able to face the real world”. On the social evil corruption: “I along with my college have been a part of the INDIA AGAINST CORRUPTION movement from the very beginning and intend to support it till the very end”.

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