BENGALURU: Stressing that awareness on fundamental duties should be created, the High Court has observed that the dream of Mahatma Gandhi, that independent India should be a place where there would be no poverty, no diseases, no ignorance and no depravity, can be achieved when every citizen resolves to discharge with all his wisdom the fundamental duties.
“A study shows that even highly educated citizens do not appear to be aware of the fundamental duties appearing in part IV-A of the Constitution. A systematic effort should be made to spread awareness on the fundamental duties which would educate the citizens to effectively it and actively involve in the nation-building exercises. At all levels, effort should be made to generate awareness of fundamental duties and the importance of discharging the fundamental duties to enable citizens to practice the citizenship values,” the court said.
There is a need to undertake awareness programmes by the governments. “Suitable chapters can be added in the textbooks which teach civic sense to children and youth at the initial and early level of education. The state should play an active role in creating awareness not only in public offices, but also at all places of public importance. NGOs, banks, societies, local bodies, trade unions etc. can be asked to actively involve in undertaking the awareness programmes. The state government can direct its agencies including the local bodies, cooperative societies to undertake awareness programmes to educate the masses with regard to imbibing of fundamental duties to achieve the dream of the Father of Nation and the object and purpose with which the Constitution was amended and Article 51-A was inserted.”
The court stressed that the media can sensitise and create awareness among citizens on the fundamental duties enshrined in Part IV-A of the Constitution.
