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Journalism of Courage
PUNE, April 19: Former Director of Central Bureau of Investigation CBI D R Karthikeyan on Sunday called for revamping the criminal administration system which had totally collapsed in the country. It is high time the antiquated procedures of trial underwent change to restore people8217;s faith in the system, he exhorted.
Karthikeyan was speaking at the two-day seminar on quot;Ethical leadership and re-engineering mindsets 8211; imperatives for quantum growthquot; organised by the Symbiosis Centre for Management and Human Resource Development SCMHRD at the National Film Archive of India NFAI here.
While the government was considering the setting up of judicial and law commissions, it was vital to ensure that there was no corruption and political interference which caused delay in disposing the cases.
Elaborating on the theme of the seminar, Karthikeyan said that inner strength comes out of being ethical and doing the right thing.
In his presidential address, N N Vohra, former principal secretary to the prime minister and chairman of the Vohra committee, spoke about the transfer of power, partition and consequences, deliberating on period-wise developments and emphasising that the Constitution was not a foreign document. The 50s and 60s saw visionary leaders, in the All-India services which were intended to integrate the people and build infrastructure, he said.
Even as the civil services should be committed to the Constitution, when Indira Gandhi came to power, the civil services got committed to a coterie, he lamented adding that the 70s saw total neglect of public welfare. Coalition governments and frequent elections led to hung assemblies affecting the country8217;s stability.
Pointing out that the presidential form of government would give quick decisions, however,as the Cabinet will be represented only by Delhi-based experts and how right would their decision be, Vohra questioned, appealing to management students to rise above the problems and give dedicated leaders to the country.
The seminar also saw a host of eminent persons addressing the students including P R Dasgputa, Secretary, Ministry of HRD, Department of Education, Government of India and others. P V Maiya, chairman, ICICI Banking An ethical example
For D R Karthikeyan who headed the Special Investigation Team probing the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, it was a trial where nothing could be compromised and truth would stand by itself. So when the suspect Shanmughan escaped their clutches and committed suicide, the then Union Home Minister S B Chavan had asked Karthikeyan to suspend the officers. But he did not budge.
Narrating the episode to management students at a seminar on 8220;ethical leadership,8221; Karthikeyan stressed that this was the first time he was disclosing the fact that Chavan had asked him to suspend officers a day prior to the Parliament session. 8220;How could I ? If I had to suspend even one man, I would feel morally guilty,8221; the former CBI director stressed emphasising that his men had toiled hard without food and sleep, done things humanly impossible to track down the killers, dealing not only with constant attention from the national media but international one also.
It was a question of accepting responsibility and once you take it up, you need to have the courage to stick through with it, he exhorted management students. Karthikeyan who had given specific instructions to his men not to touch the suspects, spoke of his amazement at their willingness to die for the leaders of the terrorist organisation despite not meeting them and wished only, 8220;if we had 10 per cent of that commitment.8221; They just popped the cyanide pills for the 8220;leaders8221; who knew the interests of the nation.
8220;You have to make sacrifices, even if one incurs the life-time risk,8221; Karthikeyan advised adding that it was worth leading a life of values and principles.Corporation Ltd. will deliver the valedictory address on Monday.
