New Delhi: The Vice President, Jagdeep Dhankhar today asked the media to be extra careful while reporting about the judiciary. He also said that the dignity of judges and respect for judiciary is inviolable as these are fundamentals of rule of law and constitutionalism.
Speaking as the Chief Guest at the first ‘Justice J.S. Verma Memorial Lecture’ at Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh today, the Vice President said that a spinally strong, fair and independent Justice System is the safest guarantee to blossoming and flourishing of democratic values. “Indisputably Democracy is best nurtured when all constitutional institutions are wholly in sync and confined to their respective domain,” he added.
The first ‘Justice J.S. Verma Memorial Lecture’ was delivered by the Supreme Court Judge, Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul to the august gathering. Recalling his many interactions as senior advocate with Justice Verma at Rajasthan High Court and Supreme Court, Dhankhar said his tenure was marked with judicial ecosystem upliftment, enhancing transparency and accountability.
Praising Justice Verma for delivering many judgments with far-reaching impact on society, the Vice President said that his landmark judgment in the Vishaka case structured the mechanism for adequately providing for specific protection of women from sexual harassment in workplaces. “Late Justice Jagdish Sharan Verma will always be best remembered for path-breaking judgments and ideas that have empowered citizens and enabled the government to overhaul institutions for the larger welfare of the people,” he added.
Noting that Justice Verma impacted various facets of laws from federalism to secularism, to the catalyst of gender Justice in India, Dhankhar said that his life and thoughts will ever inspire and motivate us and the coming generations.
Vice President pays tribute to Raja Shankar Shah and Kunwar Raghunath Shah
After the Memorial Lecture, the Vice President visited and paid tribute to Raja Shankar Shah and Kunwar Raghunath Shah by garlanding their statues. Thereafter, he reached the Veterinary College campus at Jabalpur to attend the function organised by the Government of Madhya Pradesh to commemorate the ‘Balidan Diwas’ of Raja Shankar Shah and Kunwar Raghunath Shah who were martyred by the British during the first war of Independence in 1857.
Speaking on occasion, he expressed satisfaction over the fact that the contribution and sacrifices of our tribal leaders are being recognised and highlighted as part of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ celebrations.
Referring to the President, Droupadi Murmu, he said that it is a moment of pride for every Indian to see a tribal woman at the highest constitutional position of the country for the first time in the last 75 years.
Observing that Madhya Pradesh has the largest tribal population in the country, the Vice President said that from Rani Durgawati to Raja Shankar Shah, tribal communities have a glorious history of resistance against outside aggression. He lauded the Central and State governments for building monuments and museums that highlight the stories of our tribal heroes so as to inspire the younger generations.
He also visited an exhibition on India’s freedom struggle and witnessed cultural performances by the local folk artists. The Vice President also inaugurated/laid the foundation stone of various developmental projects and felicitated meritorious tribal students & beneficiaries of various government schemes.