The Hindu : Karnataka News : `Public respect for legislators on the decline'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 23, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka

`Public respect for legislators on the decline'

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, JULY 22. The Governor, T.N. Chaturvedi, has regretted the decline in the respect commanded by legislators and the cynicism in the public mind on the political system.

He was addressing the historic 101st session of the Legislative Council, oldest second chamber of the legislature in the country. The first session began in 1952. The Council was founded in 1907 in the princely State of Mysore. It was called the Mysore Legislative Council when Krishraja Wodeyar IV was the Maharaja and Vishwanath Patankar Madhava Rao was the Dewan. The princely State established the Mysore Representative Assembly, oldest of its kind in the country, 26 years earlier in 1881.

The Governor said : "It is sad to observe that the public respect for legislators and the political system is on the decline. There is some kind of cynicism which we must strive consciously to dispel through work and exemplary conduct and through proper public relations." Cynicism would lead to disenchantment with the political system and it is dangerous for democracy, he warned.

Word of caution

The Governor reminded the legislators that a representative of the people lived in a glasshouse and the people and the press were critically watchful of their conduct, both within the House and outside. The ethical aspects of the work and the conduct of public representatives were of paramount importance. The legislators should be cognisant of the age-old truth that it was character that added lustre to capability and enhanced it.

Mr. Chaturvedi called upon the legislators to cultivate the habit of comprehending the aspirations and obligations of the Constitution in letter and spirit, if they were to really serve the people and justify their actions in the eyes of the public and their conscience.

Mr. Chaturvedi hoped that he was wrong that the members of the Council were treated in the same manner as the members of the Assembly. There should be no scope for any such doubt. Both the Houses were on equal with such responsibilities and relationships as prescribed by the Constitution which was focused on harmonious, cooperative and purposive working of the legislative wing of the State for the good of the people.

Democratic traditions

Hailing the rich democratic traditions of the State, the Governor said that most provisions of the Government of Mysore Act, 1940, which conferred certain privileges on the members, including the freedom of speech, during deliberations, were similar to the ones extended under the Government of India Act, 1935. The institution, he said, was regarded as very progressive and much ahead of the contemporary political developments elsewhere. The Chief Minister, N. Dharam Singh; the Deputy Chief Minister, Siddaramiah; the Leader of the House and Minister, M. Mallikarjun Kharge; the Leaders of the Opposition in the Assembly and Council, B.S. Yediyurappa and D.H. Shankarmurthy, respectively, the former Chief Minister, S.R. Bommai; the former Chairman of the Council B.L. Shankar; the Minister for Higher Education, D. Manjunath; the former Deputy chairmen, V.S. Krishna Iyer and David Simeon; the former Speaker of the Assembly, M.V. Venkatappa; the former Leader of the Opposition in the Council, A.K. Subbaiah; the former leaders of the House, M.C. Nanaiah and Bheemanna Khandre, and the former acting Chairman, B.R. Patil, were present.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka