Bengaluru: Former Additional Advocate General of the Karnataka High Court Arun Shyam on Sunday said that a society rooted in ethical and philosophical values would have little need to depend on courts and the judicial system.
Speaking at the Taralabalu Purnima programme organised by the Sirigere Math under the guidance of Dr Shivamurthy Shivacharya Swamiji, Arun Shyam said that the ideals of Lord Sri Rama, the teachings of Lord Krishna and the social philosophy of Basavanna offer a timeless framework for social harmony.
“If people genuinely practise these ideals in their personal and public lives, disputes will not arise and the need for prolonged legal intervention will automatically reduce,” he said. Referring to Rama Rajya, he described it as a model of people-centric governance aimed at the welfare of society. “Sri Rama’s vision was rooted in public good, while Krishna’s teachings and Basavanna’s vachanas emphasise equality, justice and peaceful coexistence,” he added.
Delivering a lecture on ‘Judiciary and Law’, Arun Shyam said that development should not be viewed purely in economic terms. “Social reform must take precedence over economic reform. Without strong social values, development remains incomplete,” he observed.
Quoting the maxim ‘Dharmo Rakshati Rakshitah’, he said it reflected an eternal truth. “Just as protecting righteousness protects society, a morally conscious society safeguards the well-being of its people. This is the essence of what philosophers across generations have taught,” he said.
Arun Shyam further stressed that while courts and laws are essential in modern governance, lasting peace can be achieved only through social harmony. “Ultimately, it is social cohesion and ethical conduct that sustain humanity,” he remarked.
He also praised the Sirigere Math for its unique tradition of dispensing justice through a Nyaya Peetha. “The speciality of Sirigere Math lies in its spiritual heads serving as judges and offering Nyaya Daan (justice), alongside education and service,” he said.
The programme was attended by scholars, devotees and members of the legal fraternity.
