Justice Kohli: Constitution guarantees rights, also prescribes duties

Hyderabad, Jan 16 (UNI) Former chief justice of Sikkim High Court Permod Kohli has said that the Constitution which guarantees rights also prescribed duties.
Speaking as chief guest at the National Webinar on “Celebrating Democracy” organized by S Jaipal Reddy Memorial Foundation to mark the 80th Birth anniversary of Former Union Minister S Jaipal Reddy on Sunday, he asked aren’t your fundamental duties as important as your fundamental rights?
“Everyone is talking about their rights. But, what about their duties? Is it not your duty to discharge the duties prescribed in the constitution? The same constitution which guaranteed you fundamental rights has also incorporated duties to be followed and observed,” a statement here said. The citizens need to remember their fundamental duties as they remember their fundamental rights, he emphasized.
Does Democracy mean just protests for months together? he asked. Doesn’t this go against the spirit of democracy? he asked.
He questioned legalizing the pre-election freebie distribution concept which needs to be regulated. Political parties are legally buying votes in the disguise of freebies. Is it not political corruption, he questioned? It is the public money that can be used for better purposes such as infrastructure development.
He touched upon how hate speeches are on the rise of late which are going on unchecked. He worried about their frequency.
The time has come to check these kinds of hatred which is not good for democracy, said Justice Kohli. The democratic values are compromised for little favors, he expressed his concern. The terrorists of democracy are the people from within the country and are not from outside. It is a very dangerous situation, he cautioned.
Though I don’t know Mr Jaipal Reddy so intimately, all I know is that he is a good, humble politician with a good set of democratic values which must be followed, he added.