Dr. Justice Ashok B. Hinchigeri, Chairperson of Law Commission of Karnataka, addressing students at a dialogue organised by Universal School of Law as part of Human Rights Day 2025 celebrations, in Karnataka Government Employees’ Association Building in Bengaluru on December 9, 2025.
| Photo Credit: Dhiraj Shetty
Students of Universal School of Law in Bengaluru got some insights into human rights and their application around the world at a dialogue organised in the run-up to Human Rights Day.
At the event organised on December 9, experts addressed the question: Why India ranks high on GDP, but low on human rights.
Dr. Justice Ashok B. Hinchigeri, Chairperson of Law Commission of Karnataka and former judge of Karnataka High Court, explained the various norms, issues and laws related to human rights. He stressed that investment in education and healthcare is usually underrated, but is actually one of the most significant contributors to upholding human rights.
Salil Shetty, former secretary general of Amnesty International and former director of the United Nations Millennium Campaign, addressing students at a dialogue organised by Universal School of Law as part of Human Rights Day 2025 celebrations, in Karnataka Government Employees’ Association Building in Bengaluru on December 9, 2025.
| Photo Credit:
Dhiraj Shetty
Salil Shetty, former Secretary General of Amnesty International and former director of the United Nations Millennium Campaign, explained that marginalized sections of society are the main beneficiaries of public investment in education and healthcare. He said that people who are well-off do not patronize government schools or hospitals.
Expanding on the topic of human rights, he used data to explain his point of view, but introduced an interactive element into the session by asking questions to the audience and seeking the opinion of the students.
A highlight of the event was a video clip of an interview of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, who chaired the committee that drafted the Constitution of India, in which he shared his views on democracy.
At the end of the session, the two experts took questions from the audience, some of which dwelt on the practical application of laws, specifically those related to human rights.
Human Rights Day is celebrated every year on December 10, which is the day on which the United Nations General Assembly adopted, in 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
R. Upendra Shetty, Chairperson of Universal Group of Institutions, presided over the event, along with Dr. Meera Krishnappa, Director, Education, Universal School of Administration), at Karnataka Government Employees’ Association Building in Bengaluru.
Published – December 09, 2025 03:34 pm IST
