'We Are Too Bothered About Our Rights But Forget Our Constitutional Duties': Justice SVN Bhatti

Supreme Court judge Justice SV Bhatti has said that "external threat to our sovereignty, integrity is managed well by our defence forces which we need not bother but there are dangerous insidious elements

in our society about which we are to be careful and that we can do only by adhering to the fundamental duties.""I am confident that external threat to sovereignty and integrity of our country is managed by those entrusted with protecting the territorial integrity which we need not bother our forces have proved it they have done it and will also keep doing in future but there are dangerous insidious elements in our society about which we are to be careful that we can do only by adhering to the fundamental duties," the judge added.Justice Bhatti was speaking at an event organised by the Akhil Bharatiya Adhivakta Parishad Supreme Court Unit as part of Constitution Day celebrations .Senior advocate C S Vaidyanathan was also a speaker at the functionThe SC judge said that citizens increasingly view the nation as a service provider rather than recognising their own constitutional obligations.“Public discourse focuses heavily on fundamental rights while the performance of constitutional duties under Article 51A receives limited attention”, he saidJustice Bhatti said this imbalance has created a civic culture where people expect services from the state but do not assess their own duty-based contributions to national development.The judge said its high time citizens start seeing themselves as co-owners of the Republic. He said that fundamental duties must be treated as constitutional obligations similar to the responsibilities a person owes to a family.Justice Bhatti said with recent economic growth, the country should be vigilant against both external and internal exploitation and therefore its very important to perform constitutional duties. "Certain elements within society as capable of undermining national development and performance of duties can help citizens identify whether an action protects or affects their own rights," he said.He said, "This increase in national wealth requires a proportional increase in public commitment to safeguarding constitutional values and the wellbeing of citizens. When we are looking ahead to the centenary year of independence in 2047,India can progress more effectively if citizens follow their duties and the state responds by implementing directive principles with greater vigour. He said that a civic environment built on mutual responsibility between citizens and the state forms the basis for future development," said the judge.Supreme Court Adhivakta Parishad members advocates Alabhya Dhamija, Richa Vishwakarma, Vishal Singh, Rishikesh Haridas, Rashmi Singhania conducted the event. Advocate Nachiketa Joshi was also part of the event as a guest.