The Constitution Day Programme was held in MRPL Employees Recreation Centre on 26.11.2018. Shri BHV Prasad, GGM-HR welcomed the august gathering by briefing the audience about commemoration of the Constitution day. The GOI declared in the year 2015 that 26 November will be celebrated as "Constitution Day" since that year was the 125th birth anniversary year of DR. B. R. Ambedkar (14 April 1891 – 6 December 1956), who is known as the architect of the Indian constitution.

The preamble of the Constitution was read out aloud in English, Hindi and Kannada during the function.

Shri Al Rafeeq Moideen, GM, Law while speaking about the significance of the day said that there are large diversities in this country but the document which keeps us together is our constitution. He added that the constitution begins by saying ‘we the people of India’ so we have given ourselves this constitution and we follow and obey our constitution.

Shri Kadloor Satyanarayacharya, Principal District and Sessions Judge, DK, and Chairman of the District Legal Service Authority spoke on the occasion and offered salutations to all the great personalities of our country who contributed to make this great constitution. He emphasised on the importance of Article 39 A of the Indian Constitution which speaks about Equal Justice and Free legal aid and that the state should ensure that opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen by reason of economic and other disabilities. He read out few fundamental duties mentioned in article 51A of our constitution especially that the citizens to develop scientific temper, humanism etc., and that awareness of these duties should be created in our children.

Hon’ble Mr.Justice Krishna Shripad Dixit, Judge, High Court of Karnataka graced the occasion as the Chief Guest and delivered the key note address. He said that in comparison to USA our constitution is long and has undergone more amendments. Whether it is short or long, our constitutional ethos are stronger and more withstanding because of the inherent values of the people of the nation. The famous Roman Empire fell because they did not address how to bring up their children and building up of the right values in them. He emphasised on the valuable contribution of Dr. B. R Ambedkar in drafting the constitution and added that Dr. Ambedkar himself was reluctant to take any credit and always highlighted the contributions of his fellow draftsmen. The greatness of Dr. Ambedkar lies in the fact that even though he got many opportunities to serve in higher position in developed nations of that time, he chose to stay back in India to serve and contribute to the welfare of the poor and downtrodden. The Justice also reminded the contribution made by Shri B.N Rao, a Mangalorean, who was advisor to the Constituent assembly. Our country is known for tolerance that is the reason many religious leaders came to India, he said. Shri Winston Churchill was against giving Independence to India because he feared that the power will be misused but we have proved him wrong, he said. Historically there were many universities in our country and this land is a land of knowledge, he said. With knowledge we can bring honour to our constitution, he said he wished one to be knowledgeable and happy. We should learn lessons from our history and we should have a direction to succeed, he concluded.

Shri M Venkatesh, Managing Director, MRPL spoke and said that we generally believe that we should work with natural justice, do good and right things and the rest will be taken care. It is the judiciary that comes to the rescue when things happen against the spirit of the constitution, he said. Our constitution has withstood 70 years and 101 amendments and last one being the GST, he recollected. He read out major amendments of our constitution and said that these were required to keep pace with the changing times and situations. He also recalled some of the major judgements and said that judiciary can strike down any incorrect decision by the government and that is the beauty of our constitution, he remarked.

The event was graced by the presence of District Judges and other Judges of Dakshina Kannada, Managluru.

Mrs. Lekshmi M Kumaran, CGM(HR) introduced the Chief Guest of the day Hon’ble Mr.Justice Krishna Shripad Dixit to the gathering.

Shri Praful Mohan, Chief Manager – Legal proposed the vote of thanks and Ms Pavithra from HSE Dept compered the event. Ms Aparna M Nayak, Executive – Finance chanted the invocation.

The prizes were distributed to the winners of the competitions.