The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Saldahna calls for changes in legal profession

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jul 13, 2006

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Saldahna calls for changes in legal profession

Staff Reporter

Christ College of Law inaugurated

BANGALORE: Former Karnataka High Court judge M.F. Saldahna on Wednesday said that the legal profession was going through a dark period. "The entire process of justice dispensation has become pathetic and it needs to be improved," he said. Participating in a function to mark the inauguration of the Christ College of Law, Mr. Saldahna, who is also the president of Transparency International's Karnataka Chapter, said the public image of the profession had come down. "I feel a overhaul or revolution involving lawyers of high calibre can change the image," he said. Pointing out that he had suggested to the management of the Christ College to set up a law college, the former judge said: "I hope this institution will change the face of legal profession."

"Bangalore has the dubious distinction of having the highest ratio of dowry death cases. Yet the rate of acquittal is as high as 93.7 per cent. All these things need to be changed," he said.

Cyriac Joseph, Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court, urged students to imbibe qualities such as patience, perseverance and hard work.

"If you try hard with a determination to achieve something, you can do it. Do not be worried about the initial difficulties in the legal profession. Remember that it is a noble profession and the sky is the limit here," he told them. Mr. Cyriac Joseph advised the students to develop an attitude of accepting defeat. "You will get this only if you participate in extra-curricular activities. It is not enough if you confine yourself to law and read law books. General reading is also a must," he added.

Former Lokayukta N. Venkatachala and principal of the college John Thaliath spoke.

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