Guarding Constitution every citizen’s duty: Acting Chief Justice of Telangana HC

Hyderabad: Acting Chief Justice of the Telangana high court, Justice Sujoy Paul, on Monday stressed the critical role of every citizen in protecting the Constitution and ensuring its effective implementation.
Speaking as the chief guest at the 134th birth anniversary celebrations of BR Ambedkar, Justice Paul urged citizens to take personal responsibility in upholding constitutional values. "Every citizen must take up the task as their personal responsibility," he said, emphasising that the duty to guard the Constitution does not lie solely with political or judicial authorities.
He posed a powerful question: "Whose job is it to monitor the implementation and guard the purity of the Constitution?" Referring to the Preamble, he said, "We, the people, gave unto ourselves this Constitution. Hence, it is the duty of every citizen to be its guardian." He also echoed Ambedkar's sentiment that if the Constitution fails to serve its purpose, it is the fault of those entrusted with its protection.
Justice Paul likened the Constitution to the Ganga river, pure at its origin but vulnerable to pollution over time. "The story of the Constitution is also the same. It was pure in the beginning," he warned, calling for vigilance against corruption of its principles.
He emphasised that maintaining the sanctity of the Constitution is essential for a healthy democracy. "We must be eternally vigilant to keep our democracy clean," he added.
Justice Surepalli Nanda, guest of honour, hailed Ambedkar as an extraordinary leader who gave India a powerful tool to fight inequality. "Delivering social justice and welfare is a true tribute to Babasaheb," the judge said, urging a strategy of inclusive growth to uplift marginalised communities. "A life of dignity must be assured to all. The fight against poverty, illiteracy, and disease must be won," Justice Nanda added.
Justice Nandikonda Narasinga Rao, additional advocate general T Rajanikanth Reddy, and others also attended.
Bar council chairman A Narasimha Reddy noted the council's tradition of celebrating Ambedkar's birth anniversary for the past 15 years. Advocates A Jagan, V Raghunath, Vishnuvardhan Reddy, Chikkudu Prabhakar, and Ponnam Ashok stressed the importance of promoting social justice across all sectors, including judicial appointments.