"Every day is a challenge for Democracy", said Former SC judges J Chelameswar. Justice Jasti Chelameswar, who once kick-started a debate on the administration of the Supreme Court and the way the Chief Justice of Indi operates, was in Kuwait to conduct a talk on "Constitutional Challenges in India" organized by Progressive Professional Forum (PPF) Kuwait. The event was held on Friday, 26th April 2019 at Al Najat Arabic School, Mangaf, Kuwait.

Governance is not authority but responsibility, says former judge of Supreme Court of India Justice Chelameswar. On his 5 days visit to Kuwait for the event “Candour 2019” organized by Progressive Professional Forum Kuwait (PPF) Justice Chelameswar was delivering his keynote address on Constitutional challenges in India. Indian Constitution is not just a document of ink on paper but a document that was written in the blood of martyrs of the country. The constitution shall be looked in terms of the blood of those martyrs spanning from Jalian Walabagh to Mappila lahala. It’s a document containing a philosophy, political goal and has cultural connotations. It’s the guideline for the central and state governments to carry on their duties to achieve the ideals of justice, social, political, and economic aimed by the preamble. Those who are chosen to be the members of the administration are commanded by the constitution to achieve the principles enshrined in the preamble.

 The people who are entrusted with the operation of the constitution must essentially understand the real content of the document, this is the first challenge. Constitutional government is all about rule of law. This system of governance has been evolved through a long process. It’s a predetermined set of rules made known to people about right and wrong. This is against the concept of the choice of a dictator ruler who decides right and wrong according to his/her whims and fancy. To secure the rule of law, constitutional governance has three arms like the legislature, executive, and judiciary with clear delineation of power and responsibility.

  Human beings are not necessarily democrats. Acquiring power to control human being is politics. Democracy is ultimately a way of life, a concept that accepts the lives and liberties of the fellow human being. The role of money in electoral politics and the abuse of power by those who are given the political mandate with unrestricted power is another challenge. The greater the money threat in the electoral process, the greater will be the threat to the independence of constitutional institutions, especially the judiciary. Thus the choosing of right candidate through the electoral process is important. If the leadership is purchased through money power and the lawmakers have no interests in the welfare of the common public, the policies formed by them will not be for the masses of the country but to protect limited and desired interests.

Justice Chelameswar observed that irrespective of the feudalistic history, huge diversity of culture, language, religion, and caste, elections are conducted periodically in India for the last 70 years. It is essential to increase the awareness among the people to carefully exercise their right through the electoral process to choose the most suitable representatives to govern the country. How to handle this situation and how to sustain the democratic principles and rule of law in the country is the greatest challenge.

Justice Chelameswar acknowledged the pan-Indian nature of PPF and conveyed his regards for inviting him to deliver a message that has contemporary importance. Progressive Professional Forum (PPF) Kuwait organized the legal discourse on “Constitutional challenges in India” by Justice Jasti Chelameswar on Friday, 26 th April 2019 at Al-Najath School Mangaf. The function was presided by G Santhosh Kumar, President, Progressive Professional Forum (PPF) Kuwait, and welcomed by Anil Kumar, General Secretary, Progressive Professional Forum (PPF) Kuwait. “Candour- 2019”, a souvenir to commemorate the occasion was released during the function by Justice Chelameswar by giving a copy to Mr. Suresh Pillai, Managing Director, Mark Groups. Mr. Suresh Pillai, Mr. Abdul Sageer, General Convener Designate, Kuwait Engineers Forum, Dr. Rajendra Mishra, Treasurer, Indian Doctors Forum (IDF) Kuwait, Adv. Thomas Panicker, President, Indian Lawyers Forum (ILF) Kuwait, Mr. Sam Painummood, Member of Loka Kerala Sabha delivered the felicitation speeches.

“Candour 2019” was compered by Adv. Thomas Stephen, Executive member, PPF Kuwait. Dr. Anila Albert, Executive member, PPF Kuwait introduced the Chief guest to the audience, and Mrs. Sherly Sasirajan, Executive member, PPF Kuwait delivered the vote of thanks.