`Dharma can prevent a person from committing an offence'

Dharma can prevent a person from committing an offence
The Hindu
DHARMA AND LAW: Rama Jois, former Governor of Bihar and Jharkhand, addressing a seminar on `Ancient Hindu law and administration' in Dharwad on Thursday. Saroja Bhate and M. Khajapeer, Vice-Chancellor, Karnatak University are seen.
HUBLI: Law can only punish a person after an offence is committed, but dharma can prevent a person from committing an offence, said Rama Jois, former Governor of Bihar and Jharkhand and former Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

Inaugurating a seminar on "Ancient Hindu law and administration — as reflected in Vedic and smriti literature," Mr. Jois said that lack of adherence to dharma is the root cause for all problems.

"According to the shastras, there should be `trivarga' in the human life, artha, kama and dharma, to make it meaningful. Now-a-days, the concept of dharma is missing and, consequently, it has become `dwivarga," he said.

It is only when the rules of dharma are properly followed "Rama rajya" will come into existence, he felt.

The fundamental principles of dharma have been mentioned in the various shastras, smritis and Vedas, which we have to adapt, Mr. Jois said.

He stressed on the need for passing on religious and cultural values to the younger generation. "Instil the concept of dharma in the young minds", Mr. Jois said.

Mr. Jois said that Kautilya's Arthashastra mentions about the punishment to be given to corrupt officials.

He said that according to the Arthashastra, the whole property of corrupt officials should be forfeited. In Manu Smriti, there is mention about what should be done in case of seeds of bad quality are distributed to farmers, he said.

He also referred to "Rajatarangini" to explain what is "Rajadharma." He quoted an incident from "Rajatarangini," of a cobbler refusing to vacate his house for the construction of a temple and ultimately the king asking his officials to relocate the temple.

On the decision of Gulbarga University to start an LLM course on "Bharatiya Nyadarshana and Rajadharma," Mr. Jois felt that very soon Karnatak University will initiate steps in this regard.

Saroja Bhate, Professor of Sanskrit and Prakrit (retired), Pune, delivered the key-note address.

Presiding over the function, M. Khajapeer, Vice-Chancellor, Karnatak University, lauded the Department of Studies in Sanskrit for organising the seminar. He said that what was said by our ancestors about law and administration needs to be adapted to make the present system more effective. The seminar will conclude on Saturday.