ALL INDIA LAW SEMINARON:‘DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE: SPACE FOR THE VOICE OF THE UNDER PRIVILEGED’, INDORE.
Date : 15-11-2008
Justice P.D. Mulley (Retd.) Chairman, Advisory Board, Icon Education Society gave a brief description about the achievements of the Indore Institute of Law.
Dr. Subhash Kashyap, former Secretary General of the Lok Sabha in his keynote address highlighted the various provisions of the Constitution which ensured the much wanted space for the voice of the under privileged. Deliberating on the concept of good governance, Dr.Kashyap postulated it as a solution to the problem of non representation of the marginalized in the decision making process in the following words “Some of the major characteristics of 'good' governance are—participation, consensus orientation, accountability, transparency, responsiveness, effectiveness and efficiency, equitability and inclusiveness and the rule of law.
It ensures that corruption is minimized, the views of minorities are taken into account and the voices of the most vulnerable, deprived and marginalised in society are heard in decision-making. It is also responsive to the present and future needs of society." (Link to full text)
Hon’ble Justice Kochar, Judge M. P. High Court, who headed the panel of judges for the competition summarized the presentation made by the students in the forenoon session. He apart from praising the efforts of the students also expressed his views on each of the topics deliberated by the students.
Hon’ble Justice A.K. Patnaik, Chief Justice of the M.P. High Court in his eloquent address traced the transformation of the feudal society in India into the present progressive society through the gradual process of reforms. He stressed the importance of the fundamental rights which, through the efforts of the judiciary have become an important tool for the underprivileged. He was of the view that if the enforcement of rights could be taken up by the executive along with the judiciary then this would have far reaching effect on the upliftment of the underprivileged.
He appreciated the role of Legal Assistance Forum and said that NGOs like Legal Assistance Forum have a greater role to play in ensuring that the rights of people are enforced.
Hon’ble Justice R. V. Raveendran, Judge Supreme Court of India, in his presidential address took the opportunity to explain the position of the judges and the role played by them in the administration of justice and dispelled the perception of some members of the public that judges enjoy too many vacations and work less. He said that India is the largest democracy and the powers has been decentralized to Panchayats and Municipalities on wide range of subjects mentioned in the Eleventh and Twelfth Schedule to the Constitution. On an estimate, there are more than 3 lacs elected representatives governing the people which is unparallel in any other democracy. Thus there is enough scope for the voice of the under-privileged in the governance of our country and it is the responsibility of the citizens to elect persons who would serve the society.
