I welcome you to this meeting to consider the draft Twelfth Five Year Plan.

The full text of my remarks is being distributed separately, so I will be brief.

We ended the Eleventh Plan with some notable achievements. The economy grew at an average annual rate of 7.9 percent. This is commendable for a period which saw two global crises – one in 2008 and another in 2011.

Poverty declined twice as fast between  2004-05 and 2009-10 than it did in the previous ten years.

Agriculture grew at 3.3 percent per year in the Eleventh Plan, much faster than the            2.4 percent observed in the Tenth Plan.

These are positive features. However,  we must also recognise that the Twelfth Plan is starting in a year when the world economy is experiencing difficulties and our economy has also slowed down.

These short term problems present a challenge, but they should not lead to undue pessimism about our medium term prospects.

The economy has gained many strengths. Our immediate priority must be to orchestrate a rebound in the second half of the current year. We should then try to accelerate growth to reach around 9 percent by the end of the Plan period.

This will yield a target growth rate of around 8.2 percent over the Twelfth Plan. This is lower than the 9 percent originally projected, but some downward revision is realistic given the state of the world.

As the Plan document points out, our objective is not just growth of GDP, but growth that is inclusive and also sustainable. The SC/STs, OBCs, and the minorities must all participate fully in the growth process. The Plan has many elements designed to ensure this.

The most important area for immediate action is to speed up the pace of implementation of infrastructure projects. This is critical for removing supply bottlenecks which constrain growth in other sectors. It will also boost investor sentiment to raise the overall rate of investment.

The infrastructure ministries must set ambitious goals for their sectors over the Twelfth Plan. We need close to a trillion dollars of investment in infrastructure and we have to work hard to achieve this.

I will personally review the performance of the infrastructure Ministries compared with targets at the end of the first six months. I hope that out of this review we can define an agenda for improved implementation.

Turning to the longer term policy agenda, the Plan can be seen as consisting of three broad components.

One is the set of Government programmes aimed at achieving specific sectoral objectives.   The Plan contains ambitious programmes in health, education, water resource management, infrastructure development, and a number of programmes aimed at inclusiveness, most notably the MGNREGA, the PMGSY, the IWDP and the National Rural Livelihoods Mission.

Considerable resources are being allocated for these programmes. We need to pay much greater attention to making sure that these programmes are also delivering results on the ground, especially for the SCs/STs and the weaker sections. Some of the changes in the Centrally Sponsored Schemes suggested by the Chaturvedi Committee will help to improve effectiveness.

The second component relates to macro economic balance. To achieve the target of 8.2 percent growth we need to revive investment in the economy. The investment environment is therefore critical.

Our fiscal deficit is too high and is attracting adverse comment from analysts. It must be brought down over the medium term to release domestic resources for productive deployment in the economy.

Because export prospects are weak, the Plan projects a current account deficit of           2.9 per cent of GDP. This must be financed mainly through FDI and FII flows, so that reliance on external debt is limited. I believe we can attract the financing we need provided our fiscal deficit is seen to be coming under control and the growth momentum is regained.

The third key component of the Plan is the set of policies which can improve performance in individual sectors. Let me mention a few key sector priorities.

Health, education, and skill development are key sectors which enhance human capability and can contribute hugely to the objective of inclusive growth. They have been given high priority in the Twelfth Plan.

Agricultural growth must be accelerated to about 4 percent

Manufacturing must grow much faster than it has, to generate the employment growth we need.

Infrastructure development is vital. It needs a combination of public investment and PPP.

Energy is a difficult area where our policy needs a comprehensive review. We are energy deficient and import dependence is increasing. It is vital for our energy security that we increase domestic production and also increase energy efficiency. Rational energy pricing is therefore critical. Our energy prices are out of line with world prices. The recent increase in diesel prices is an important step in the right direction.

Water is another area where problems of scarcity and the challenges of effective resource management are likely to expand in the years ahead.

Urbanisation is a new challenge which we must address.

The central message of the Plan is that we can achieve our objective provided we put in place policies that will take care of our weaknesses. The Plan for the first time introduces alternative scenarios.

Scenario one is called “Strong Inclusive growth”. It presents what is possible if the policy actions outlined in the Plan are substantially implemented. One can expect a number of morally excellentvirtuous cycles to start operating, leading to positive results on both growth and inclusion.  This is the scenario we should aim for.

Scenario two is called “insufficient action”. It describes a state of partial action with weak implementation. The virtuous cycles that reinforce growth in Scenario I, will not kick in, and growth can easily slow down to 6 to 6.5 percent. Inclusiveness will also suffer. This is where we will end up if we make only half-hearted efforts and slip in implementation. It is my sincere hope that we do not do so.

Scenario three is called “policy logjam”.  It reflects a situation where for one reason or another, most of the policies needed to achieve Scenario 1 are not taken. If this continues for any length of time, vicious cycles begin to set in and growth could easily collapse to about 5 percent per year, with very poor outcomes on inclusion.   I urge everyone interested in the country’s future to understand fully the implications of this scenario. They will quickly come to an agreement that the people of India deserve better than this.

I believe we can make Scenario I possible. It will take courage and some risks but it should be our endeavour to ensure that it materialises.     The country deserves no less.

Let me now invite the Finance Minister to give us his perspectives, after which I will request others to join.

 Thank you.

President of the Palestinian National Authority,

Chairman of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation

It is, indeed, a great pleasure to extend a warm welcome to Your Excellency, and to the distinguished members of your delegation on your State Visit to India.

Your visit is another important step in further strengthening the time tested friendship, solidarity and co-operation that have always characterised relations between India and Palestine.

Distinguished guests,

India's commitment to Palestine was given voice by none less than Mahatma Gandhi in the days of India's own struggle for independence. As early as in 1936, 'Palestine Day', to mark our solidarity, was observed in India. In the early years of independent India, our policy and support for the Palestinian cause was consolidated under the leadership of our first Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. We were the first country outside the Arab world to recognize the Palestine Liberation Organization, in 1975, as the sole and legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. In March 1980, we accorded recognition to the PLO Office in New Delhi - just two days prior to the first official visit of Chairman Yasser Arafat to India. Soon after that, India recognized the State of Palestine in 1988 - after which we opened our Representative Office to the State of Palestine in 1996.

Your Excellency,

India has been consistent and persevering in its commitment to the Palestinian cause. In the United Nations, the Non Aligned Movement, and in other international fora, India has always supported the Palestinian people in pursuing their legitimate aspiration for a sovereign, independent and viable विकासक्षमState. India wishes to see your realisation of a State of Palestine, with East Jerusalem as its capital, existing within secure and recognised borders side by side and in peace with Israel. Towards this end, India has underlined its support for the Arab Peace Initiative and the Quartet Road Map; we have repeatedly called for the implementation of relevant resolutions of the United Nations Security Council and General Assembly.

Your Excellency, I heartily commend the indefatigable spirit of the Palestinian people and take this opportunity to reaffirm India's principledसिद्धांत पर आधारित and unwavering support to their just cause. We have always considered the conflict in West Asia to be political in nature and therefore we believe that it cannot be resolved by force.

Excellency, India fully supports your efforts to be a member of the United Nations. Our envoys and representatives have worked together to achieve the goal of Palestine's membership of UNESCO. Very recently, as a member of the heritage committee, India supported Palestine in having the holy Church of Nativity in Bethlehem recognised as a World Heritage Site.

India has been proud to assist the Palestinian people in their continuing endeavour towards nation-building. We have seen, with satisfaction, the positive outcome of grants and resources shared by us over the decades for your developmental projects, creation of educational and training facilities, capacity building and humanitarian relief.

Excellency, I was also happy to learn that you have inaugurated the new Palestinian Embassy building in New Delhi earlier this evening. This is a proud moment in our diplomatic history - and your Embassy will ever be a monument to the co-operation and enduring friendship between our two countries and our peoples.

Your visit to India has yet again been purposeful and productive, an occasion to review our bilateral agenda , strengthen our co-operation for mutual benefit and to renew our commitment to achieving our common goals in the years to come.

With these words, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, I request you to join me in raising a toast:

- to the good health and success of His Excellency President Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian National Authority;

- to the prosperity and progress of the State of Palestine and its friendly people; and

- to the abidingटिकाऊ friendship and co-operation between India and Palestine.

It is a pleasure and privilege for me to inaugurate this Golden Jubilee Celebrations of the Kerala Union of Working Journalists. On this happy occasion, I very warmly greet all members of this creative organization.

I understand that the Kerala Union of Working Journalists is the only organisation representing journalists in Kerala. It is an organisation free from any ideological or political leanings, and one which works to resolve issues concerning the professional activities of journalists in Kerala.

The training programmes that the Kerala Union of Working Journalists began for newcomers in journalism led to the formation of the Kerala Press Academy, a pioneer in Indian journalism training institutions. The organisation established the first Press Club in the country at Ernakulam district, which was inaugurated by the then Prime Minister Shrimati Indira Gandhi in December 1968. Kerala Union of Working Journalists has a democratic structure with an elected-body leading the organisation. 

I compliment the Kerala Union of Working Journalists for having made a very important contribution towards promoting responsible and creative journalism over 50 years of its very purposeful existence.

Kerala has a vibrant and fiercely independent media. Journalists from the State have made a mark in media across the world. Malayalam newspapers have contributed immensely to the development of an independent and free press in India as a whole. Most of the old newspapers in Kerala were started as a part of the freedom movement. The fact that Kerala has three newspapers ‘Deepika’, ‘Malayala Manorama’ and ‘Kerala Kaumudi’ that have now been in publication for more than 100 years speaks for itself. Another daily, Mathrubhumi, will soon cross the 100 years mark.

Though small geographically, Kerala has 10 newspapers with a daily circulation of more than 100,000 each. Among these, Malayala Manorama and Mathrubhumi have a readership of more than one crore.

In the broadcast segment, the first satellite channel in any regional language, Asianet, belongs to Kerala. Today, the State has more than 10 channels with daily news bulletins, including five 24 hours news channels.

These facts show that the media plays a very important role in the everyday life of the people of this state. They also point out that the journalists in the State function in a competitive environment where only the best would be able to do well. Kerala Union of Working Journalists therefore has a very important role to play in promoting not only professional competence, but also ethical conduct in the large fraternity of journalists that live in Kerala, addressing the problems they face in their work and promoting their well-being.

We are all proud of our democracy, which has survived and prospered despite serious challenges to it. We are a country with numerous religions, ethnicities, languages and viewpoints. Freedom for multiple, often opposing, viewpoints to co-exist is one of the defining characteristics of Indian society and Indian polity.  An independent and responsible media is a pre-requisite for sustaining such a society and polity.

We are proud that the freedom of expression is a Constitutional guarantee in India. The media in our country is not just a reliable barometer of public opinion; it is also the conscience-keeper of our nation.

Today, our country is going through some difficult times. The unfortunate incidents of the past few months have brought out worrying fault-lines in our society. The tragic developments in Assam and their reverberations in Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad and other places have shown that we cannot and we should not afford to take social peace and harmony for granted. We need to be constantly vigilant and work continuously towards promoting greater communal harmony and inter-group and inter-community dialogue and understanding.

The media has a very important role to play in this task. Its reporting and opinions should be fair, objective and balanced. The desire to be sensational should be avoided, even though it is very tempting, sometimes. Restraint should be exercised so that nothing that divides our society and country is written, broadcast or telecast. On the other hand a conscious effort should be made to build bridges between communities and regions. These are no more than the abiding values that constitute responsible journalism and which the Kerala Union of Working Journalists has been promoting.

The media in Kerala has both reflected the aspirations of the people and has also moulded साँचे में ढालना public opinion. It has often broken new ground. Long before the concept of development journalism evolved elsewhere in the country, the pages of the Malayalam newspapers were replete 

with the news of development activities at all levels, including the activities of Panchayats. I am told that recently there was a successful reality show by a Malayalam TV channel in which different Panchayats showcased the development projects in their respective areas! It is indeed difficult to imagine such a show anywhere else in India.

Kerala has produced great media professionals like K. Sukumar, Kesari Balakrishana Pillai, Mammen Mapila, and K.P. Kesava Menon; and cartoonists like Sankar and Abu Abraham. I consider myself greatly privileged to have known many such people in my public life. I sincerely hope that many more journalists from Kerala would follow in the footprints of these distinguished men and women who make the journalist profession feel indeed very proud.

Let me, therefore, conclude by wishing the Kerala Union of Working Journalists and the journalistic fraternity in Kerala all the very best for the future. May God bless your path.

Thank you. Jai Hind.

It gives me great pleasure to be in Chennai today to deliver the valedictory address on the occasion of the 150th anniversary celebrations of the High Court of Madras.

2. The Madras High Court has an illustrious विख्यातhistory. It was one of the three Courts established in India by Letters Patent issued by Queen Victoria after the Calcutta High Court on July 1, 1862 and Bombay High Court on August, 14, 1862.

3. The historical context in which the Madras High Court was established meritsलायक होनाrecall. The death of Tipu Sultan and the fall of Srirangapatanam in 1799 eliminated the only Indian kingdom of the South that challenged the British. By the mid 1800s, the power of the British was running high with a direct impact on the growth of the East India Company's operations in India. Consequently, the Company rapidly gained strength as a political power. To dispense justice in an organised and centralised manner, the company started the process of unifying the judicial system with the establishment of the Supreme Court of Madras in 1801 and subsequently, the merger of all Courts of Law into the Madras High Court on August 15, 1862 by Letters Patent issued under the Indian High Courts Act, 1861.

4. It is interesting that the High Court of Madras was formally inaugurated on August 15, 1862, exactly 85 years before India attained Independence.

5. The Madras High Court has many firsts to its credit. It was this Court which had the first Indian, Sir T.Muthuswami Ayyar, appointed as a Judge of a High Court. The first Indian Advocate General, Sir V.Bashyam Iyengar was also from here. Madras High Court was the first to have an Indian Chief Justice, Dr. P.V.Rajamannar, who served for over 13 years.

6. The Madras High Court was a pioneer in the enrolment of women. B. Ananda Bai and Seeta Devadoss joined the Bar much before women were permitted to appear in other Courts of law in the country.

7. As a matter of fact, I can trace a very special connection between Calcutta and Madras. It was Sir Sankaran Nair, a member of the Madras Bar who fought for the autonomy of Calcutta University when the struggle was on between Sir Ashutosh Mukherjee and Sir Henrey Shaw. He later became an Advocate General before getting elevated to the Bench. This was recollected by no less a person than Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, the then President of India on the occasion of the centenary celebrations of this very High Court on 6th of August, 1962.

8. Yet another connection that Calcutta had with Madras High Court was the appointment of a member of the Madras Bar, Eardley Norton as the Special Public Prosecutor in the famous Alipore Bomb blast case in which Shri Aurobindo was one of the accused. Though Eardley Norton was a barrister प्रधान वकीलof the Madras Bar, the British Government had hired his services as a Special Public Prosecutor in the year 1908 for this case.a British or Canadian lawyer who speaks in the higher courts of law on behalf of either the defense or prosecution

9. There was yet another connection - Sir Frederick William Gentle was the Chief Justice of this Court when India attained independence. Before being appointed as the Chief Justice of this Court, he rendered valuable service as a puisne Judge of the Calcutta High Court from 1941-47, after serving here as a puisne Judge from 1936-41.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

10. The High Court of Madras has an unusual architectural feature, a 175 feet high Tower of the Light House overseeing the city of Chennai. This tower symbolizes the role this High Court has played for over a century and a half. It has been a guardian and a watch tower for the rule of law, seeking to secure for our citizens justice-social, economic and political-as enjoined in the preamble to our Constitution.

11. The High Court of Madras has, over the years, earned fame as an institution of high standards with strong traditions and ideals. Its Bench as well as Bar has been well known for legal eruditionविद्वत्ता and intellectual acumen. Independence and fairness has been its hallmark. Land mark decisions of this Court have contributed greatly to the strengthening of the legal and constitutional framework of our country.

12. Many luminaries from the Madras Bar have contributed to the national movement and politics of independent India. Sir C. Sankaran Nair was Advocate General, then judge and finally Member of the Viceroy's Council. He abandoned the Membership in the Council and joined the Indian National Congress and became its President in 1897.

13. Shri C. Rajagopalachari or 'Rajaji' as he was popularly known, had a successful career in law at this Bar, before he gave up practice and plunged into the freedom struggle. Rajaji served as Governor General of India from June 21, 1948 to January 26, 1950.

14. My eminent predecessor, Shri R. Venkataraman, was also member of this Bar and went on to serve the country in various capacities such as Minister of Finance, Minister of Defence, Minister of Home Affairs and Vice President of India before becoming the President of India from 1987 to 1992.

15. Sir C.P.Ramasamy Iyer is a name etched in our memory. He not only had a lucrative practice and later became the Advocate General of this Court, he was also the leader of the Home Rule Movement along with Dr. Annie Besant.

16. Shri V.Krishnaswami Aiyar is another name that deserves to be recalled, both for his contribution to this Court as well as to society at large. He was a close friend of Gokhale and Surendranath Banerjee and highly respected by Sir Phirozeshah Mehta, all of whom represented moderate views of independence movement.

17. Other legal luminariesa celebrity who is an inspiration to others recognized for their brilliance over the years include Sir T. Muthuswami Iyer, Sir C. Madhavan Nair, Justice M. Pathanjali Sastri, who later became the Chief Justice of India, Sir V.Bashyam Ayyangar, Shri T.R. Venkatarama Sastri, Shri T. R. Ramachandra Ayyar, Dr. Alladi Krishnaswami Ayyar and in more recent times, Shri M.K.Nambiar and Shri Govind Swaminathan. Shri K. Parasaran and G. Ramaswamy from this Bar have served as Attorney Generals and Shri V.P. Raman and Shri K.K. Venugopal as Solicitor Generals of Independent India.

18. Special mention also deserves to be made of Mohan Kumaramanglam, a leading criminal lawyer of the Madras Bar, who served as Minister for Iron and Steel Mines before passing away at a young age.

19. Lawyers of the High Court like V.L. Ethiraj, Shri Subbaraya Iyer and Shri P.S. Sivasamy Iyer, have also made contribution to the spread of education in the state by setting up several top class educational institutions.

20. The illustrious lawyers and Judges of this Court have also contributed to nation building and advancement of social justice.

21. The case filed by Champakam Dorairajan paved the way for the first amendment to Article 15 of the Constitution. Clause (4) enabling the State to make special provisions for the advancement of any socially and educationally backward class of citizens or of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes was inserted in Article 15 of the Constitution by the first Constitutional Amendment Act 1951, after the decision in this case.

22. Similarly, the insertion of the Ninth Schedule to the Constitution for grouping legislations that would fall beyond the pale of judicial review was the brain child of a member of Madras Bar, Mr. V.K. Thiruvenkatachari, who served as Advocate General for 13 years. When legislations relating to Zamindari abolition and land reforms were struck down by the Patna and Calcutta High Courts as unconstitutional and violative of Articles 14 and 31 of the Constitution, Shri Thiruvenkatachari suggested the insertion of Ninth schedule and the inclusion of the legislations regarding land reforms in this schedule.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

23. Let me now turn to some of the issues that dominate the legal discourse in our country today.

24. The independence of our judiciary is widely recognized and a matter of pride for every citizen of our country. The Indian Judiciary has enlarged the scope of fundamental rights, increased the space for democracy, while maintaining the quality of justice delivered. We must do everything possible to preserve and protect the independence of our judiciary from any form of encroachment. At the same time, the judiciary, as an important pillar of democracy, must also keep reinventing itself through a process of introspection and self-correction.

25. The separation of powers, long established as one of the basic features of our Constitution, ensures that each organ of government operates within its own sphere and none takes over functions assigned to the other. It is the Constitution that is supreme. The laws are enacted by the legislature, the executive does the implementation, and the judiciary is the final interpreter of these laws. The delicate balance of power enshrined in the Constitution should be maintained at all times.

26. Our judges, through innovation and judicial activism have contributed enormously to expanding the frontiers of justice and providing access to the poorest of the poor of our country. Taking into account the special circumstances of a developing country, our Supreme Court has expanded the common law principle of 'locus standi' when it comes to violation of the fundamental rights of our citizens. A post card or newspaper article has been sufficient to trigger the intervention of the Courts in support of individual rights. Today, our Courts permit any person, acting with bona fide and having sufficient interest in maintaining an action for judicial redress for public inquiry, to put the judicial machinery in motion.

27. However, a note of caution needs to be sounded. Judicial activism should not lead to the Constitutional principles of separation of power getting eroded. Judicial pronouncements must respect the boundaries that separate the Legislature, Executive and Judiciary.

28. The principle of separation of powers is equally a principle of restraint. While the exercise of powers of the legislature and executive are subject to judicial review, the only check on the judiciary's exercise of powers is the self-imposed discipline and self-restraint.

29. Judging the judges is a delicate and sensitive topic and one which has been viewed with some concern by jurists. Legislation which carefully balances the independence of the judiciary with the need to protect and preserve its credibility is a useful complement to the judiciary's own efforts. Ultimately, the credibility of the judiciary will depend on the quality of the judges who man the various Courts of the country. Therefore, the process of selection and appointment of judges should conform to the highest of standards and should be based on well established principles.

30. Justice delayed is justice denied. Administration of justice must be quick and accessible to all. Despite various challenges, the judiciary in India is working hard to reduce back-log of cases and provide speedy justice. Our courts must be strengthened with additional resources and the Government is fully engaged in this task. A National Mission for Justice Delivery has been launched, the Constitution is being amended to raise the retirement age of High Court Judges and efforts are underway to create an All India Judicial Service.

31. The filling of vacancies in courts across the country is a matter that must be taken up as a priority by all concerned. We must make haste in this regard but without compromising on quality.

32. The judicial system in our country should not only be accessible but also affordable. The fact that litigation is time consuming and expensive is well known. To address this, alternative dispute resolution mechanisms such as mediation and arbitration should be encouraged. This will help ensure timely and effective justice, and ease judicial pendency. The judiciary has a crucial role to play in the administration of the Legal Services Authority Act which has multiple objectives. Greater efforts are also needed to spread legal literacy across the nation.

33. Article 39A of the Constitution provides that: "The State shall ensure that the operation of the legal system promotes justice, on a basis of equal opportunity, and shall in particular, provide free legal aid, by suitable legislation or schemes in any other way, to ensure opportunities for securing justice are not denied by reason of economic or other disabilities".

34. The Government, judiciary and lawyers through their voluntary efforts must make this Constitutional dictum a living reality for the common man.

35. Improving the quality of legal education and inculcating the right values in aspiring and young lawyers is the need of the hour. Lawyers of Madras, have unhesitatingly accepted judicial office even if it involves substantial monetary sacrifice. Bar Associations of the Madras High Court have also utilised their knowledge and expertise to assist in the development of the law. The Madras Bar has provided valuable inputs on many bills and legislation, such as the Code of Civil Procedure and the Criminal Procedure Code. This is certainly a tradition worth emulation by other Bar Associations of India.

36. The great traditions and vitality of the Madras High Court exemplify the high sense of duty that has animated the judiciary and the legal profession of this state. I am confident that the Madras High Court will continue to uphold its glorious heritage of 150 years. It will enhance its contributions to the development of law, justice and jurisprudence. Jurisprudence is the study and theory of lawIt will at the same time ensure that administration of justice continues to be carried on with dedication and commitment to the common man.

I congratulate the Hon'ble Judges, members of the Bar and the staff of the Madras High Court for their past achievements and wish them the very best in their future endeavours.