Money & Power erode moral integrity, weaken society’s foundations: Justice Hegde

Bhubaneswar, Aug 13 (UNI) Former Supreme Court judge and retired Karnataka Lokayukta Justice N. Santosh Hegde today lamented that the relentless pursuit of money and power has eroded moral integrity and weakened the very foundations of society.

“Today, people can go to jail, come out, hold high positions, and still be celebrated,” Justice Hegde said while addressing a seminar on “Fall in Social Values and Its Consequences” at KIIT Law School here.
He pointed out that greed has driven massive scams, draining the nation’s resources, and questioned how genuine development can occur when such large amounts are siphoned off.
During his two-day visit to KIIT and KISS, Justice Hegde urged students to cultivate contentment without abandoning ambition.

“Ambition should be within the four walls of values and grounded in humanism,” he said, warning against the tendency to constantly compare oneself with those more fortunate.

“Think of those who are less well-off than you. Greed fuels inflation, devalues money, and erodes the social fabric. A shortage of contentment is one of the biggest problems facing our society today,” he observed.
Drawing from personal experience, the 86-year-old jurist said, “I have seen countless people suffer at the hands of institutions created under our Constitution to ensure good governance. Despite our rich documents and literature on social values, society today prioritises wealth and influence over justice and fairness.”

Justice Hegde also recalled that in earlier times, the fear of punishment extended beyond the wrongdoer to their family, serving as a strong deterrent against misconduct.
“Now, people with questionable backgrounds can still rise to the highest positions,” he remarked.