Daijiworld News Network –Mangalore (VM) - Pic Dayanand Kukkaje

Mangalore, Apr 30: Former Attorney General Soli J Sorabjee on Saturday, Apr 29 received the Justice K S Hegde Charitable Foundation Award at a function held at Dr T M A Pai International Convention Centre.

Speaking on the occasion, Sorabjee demanded for ostracizing corrupt officials from the society. Terming corruption as a potent source of violation of human right, especially the economic and social rights of the people, he said that corruption is to be held responsible to the gross human right violations in India.

"Do not invite ministers, officials and politicians who have made name for corruption and criminality to inaugurate schools, hospitals and charitable foundations,'' Sorabjee said.

A change in the political morality and political culture is the need of the hour.

Criticising hero worship as threat to democracy, Sorabjee said that the slogan ‘India is Indira and Indira is India’ was chanted in the sycophantic hero worship of the leader. We paid a price. Democracy suffered a temporary demise in our country from June 1975 till March 1997, when it was revoked. We must be on guard against this dangereous phenomenon, Sorabjee warned.

A S Anand, chairperson of National Human Rights Commission presented the award and also delivered the Justice K S Hegde Charitable Foundation lecture on "Challenges to Democracy — We have Promises to Keep."

Nitte Vinay Hegde, president, Nitte Education Trust, Supreme Court judge Justice Santhosh Hegde, N V Adyantaya and Prof N R Shetty were present at the programme.