Students should have respect for law: former CEC

Madurai, March 12: In the midst of the JNU row, former Chief Election Commissioner T S Krishnamurthy today said the need of the hour was respect for law and all students should respect the law of the nation and the constitution.

Addressing the 19th Convocation of Subbulakshmi Lakshmipathy Science College and R L Institute of Management Studies here, he said: "All the students should respect the law of the nation and the constitution to fulfil the dreams and aspirations of the freedom fighters." There were extremes in the field of education.

While the higher education system had blossomed with institutions of excellence, "we have not excelled in the field of mass education in some states," he said.

"Persistence of malnutrition, poor education infrastructure and litigation in the administration of educational institutions mar the success story of India's education system. The vast knowledge acquired by the students should be harmonized with the values, and respect for law." Though India was a dynamic political democracy, with vast pool of highly qualified scientific and technological personnel, a large industrial and manufacturing sector, and globally innovative and competitive managers, it also had poverty, illiteracy, poor infrastructure, religious intolerance and social tensions, he added.

R L Lakshmipathy, Chairman of the college, in his presidential address, said the institute stressed on providing Degrees that would help the students get jobs after passing out from the college. "...We focus on building the skill to work straightaway in sectors like insurance, information technology, etc," he added.

PTI