Plea for enforcement of fundamental duties: Supreme Court seeks assistance of Attorney General KK Venugopal

The Supreme Court on Monday sought the assistance of Attorney General KK Venugopal in a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking the enforcement of fundamental duties set out in Article 51-A of the Constitution [Durga Dutt v. Union of India and Others]..A Bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and MM Sundresh asked the Central government to respond as to whether any steps have been taken pursuant to the apex court's judgment in Hon’ble Shri Ranganath Mishra v. Union of India and Others. In that judgment, the Court had issued directions to the Centre to consider steps for the implementation of the Justice JS Verma Committee's recommendations on generating awareness and consciousness of citizens towards their fundamental duties..The instant plea had sought directions to the Centre and the states to make comprehensive laws to ensure adherence to Article 51-A of the Constitution.The petition also prayed for setting up of a High Powered Committee headed by a retired Supreme Court or High Court judge to review the legal framework so created.The petitioner said that the need to implement fundamental duties has arisen due to the "new illegal trend of protests by protesters in the garb of freedom of speech and expression by way of blocking roads and rail route to compel the Government to meet their demands"..On Monday, the Court had asked Senior Advocate Ranjit Kumar, appearing for the petitioner, as to what exactly the prayers in the plea were. Kumar responded that he was emphasizing on prayers (a) and (g) in the plea. The first prayer sought directions to the Centre to make comprehensive, well-defined laws ensuring the adherence to Part IV-A of the Constitution, and to provide incentives to citizens for operationalization and enforcement of fundamental duties.Prayer (g) sought directions to frame guidelines/regulations for taking appropriate steps to sensitize the people and spread general awareness among the citizens in relation to performance of fundamental duties..The Court also noted in the order,"A lot of the issues sought to be raised fall within the domain of political dispensation as reflected by the elected body through an electoral process.".The matter will be taken up next on April 4..Supreme Court issues notice to Central Govt, States on PIL to enforce fundamental duties under Article 51A.[Read Order]