Shillong, Dec 10: Chief Justice of High Court of Meghalaya Sanjib Banerjee has come down heavily on the VIP culture which separates those in power from the common man.
Addressing a function to commemorate the International Human Rights Day at the State Convention Centre, here on Friday, the chief justice said in terms of the way the VIPs conduct themselves and the extent of privileges they enjoy, it is futile to demolish mass structure only to feed the VIP culture of those in authority.
The chief justice stressed on the need to protect the diversity within the homogeneous identity of India. Lamenting the caste system and suppression of women which are realities to this day, he said this is an inheritance of a post colonial feudal culture which ‘we cannot be proud of’.
He said while India boasts of many modern amenities, hunger, poverty, lack of shelter and health care have not been addressed adequately.
He added that human rights are centered to the very notion of peace and development and added that the promotion of political rights alone will not lead to full enjoyment of human rights as economic, social, and cultural rights are equally important. The judiciary also has a crucial role to play in safeguarding the individual’s right to dignity, he reiterated.
The programme was organised by the Meghalaya Human Rights Commission on the theme “Equality – Reducing Inequalities, Advancing Human Rights”
