Cost of corruption per person is Rs.2,000: Lokayukta

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore Mar10,2014: The   cost of corruption per person in the country is about Rs.2,000; and if this money had been spent on the welfare of the people, the country  would have vastly  improved, said Karnataka Lokayukta  Y. Bhaskar  Rao here on Sunday.

Talking at the valedictory of ‘Victoria iuris-2014’, a law fest organized by SDM Law College in the city, Mr. Rao said corruption, Which was a consequence of bad governance , had led to increased cost of delivery of products and  schemes, inequality  among groups and growing poverty.

While corruption was the highest in political spheres and policing, there was significant corruption in the judiciary, too, especially in the lower courts, he said. “Many have paid bribes Through lawyears   to peons and judges. This could be for getting a favourable   judgment or for speeding up the trial process or even for listing of a case on a particular day, ”Mr. Rao   said.

In Karnataka, there was rampant corruption in the public distribution system, in delivery of pension and primary health centres, he said. 

Antony Dominic, Kerala High Court Judge, who presided over the moot court competition, termed the law fest as a platform to practice advocacy. ” For even 15 minutes of argument, there is hours of preparation behind it,   ”he said. The four-day legal fest saw the participation of nearly 20 colleges across the country. Vying for honours  in 12 competitions that included mock trial, cilient counselling,  judgment writing and bail petition.