BELGAUM: Karnataka Governor T.N. Chaturvedi said on Thursday that probity and ethics in public life had assumed a pronounced significance in recent times and were now a matter of public concern.

In his address to the special session of the Legislature here, the Governor spoke about the situation in the State and the ways and means of correcting it. Being a special session, the Governor had prepared his address himself unlike in the case of a joint session when the Governor reads out the address prepared by the State Government.

The Governor's observations were obviously a direct reference to the political situation where numerous corruption scandals have rocked the State with allegations and counter-allegations being traded freely. There was a need for "all of us" to ponder over the matter relating to probity and ethics with all seriousness, he said.

He said the State of Mysore was known for its administrative efficiency and this should be sustained. Insensitivity to public concerns, lack of efficiency and violation of rules, and neglect of public interest had to be corrected, and towards this end, the administrative and political leadership had to recognise that only a self-respecting, independent and impartial bureaucracy would deliver the goods with competence and sensitivity.

Mr. Chaturvedi said it was important that universities were immunised from politics and casteism to maintain academic excellence.

Referring to the growing problem of naxalism in the State, the Governor said lurking dangers should not be minimised or ignored when anti-social elements, terrorists and miscreants from outside were bent on creating mischief leading to economic chaos or communal tension.

There was a need for sensitisation of the police force, and many young men and women who had been misled should be persuaded to rejoin the mainstream.

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