THEBUSINESSBYTES.COM Fast. Focused. Future-ready
THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR, AUGUST 13, 2025
“Greed is a disease with no cure, and it lies at the root of the decline in our social values,” asserted Justice N. Santosh Hegde, former Supreme Court judge and retired Karnataka Lokayukta, in a forthright address at KIIT Law School on “Fall in Social Values and Its Consequences”.
Lamenting the relentless pursuit of money and power, Justice Hegde said moral integrity is crumbling, weakening the very foundations of society. “Today, people can go to jail, come out, hold high positions, and still be celebrated. Greed has led to massive scams, draining the nation’s resources,” he remarked, questioning how genuine development can occur when so much wealth is siphoned away.
During his two-day visit to KIIT and KISS, Justice Hegde praised the institutions, noting, “In my lifetime I have visited 1,861 institutions, but never one like KIIT. The infrastructure, cleanliness, and discipline of students here have given me great satisfaction.” Applauding Founder Dr. Achyuta Samanta, he said, “Dr. Samanta is like Atlas from Greek philosophy. KIIT is second to none.” He was felicitated on the occasion.
Advising students to nurture contentment without stifling ambition, he stressed, “Ambition should remain within the four walls of values and be grounded in humanism. Think of those less fortunate than you. Greed fuels inflation, devalues money, and tears apart the social fabric. A lack of contentment is one of society’s gravest ills today.”
Recalling his experiences, the 86-year-old jurist observed, “I have seen countless people suffer at the hands of institutions created to ensure good governance. Despite our rich literature on social values, society today prizes wealth and influence over justice and fairness.” He added that in earlier times, the fear of punishment extended to a wrongdoer’s family, serving as a strong deterrent — unlike today, when even those with questionable backgrounds can rise to the highest offices.
Professor Emeritus N. L. Mitra and Director Prof. Rose Varghese of KIIT Law School also addressed the gathering.
Leave a Reply