PANAJI
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant today described the “DNA of Goa” as one of antiquity, preservation, and beauty, urging citizens to safeguard this heritage.
He was speaking at the valedictory function of the 30-day special awareness campaign on drug abuse organised by the Goa State Legal Services Authority (GSLSA), held at the Kala Academy auditorium and attended also by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.
Reflecting on his arrival in Panaji, the Chief Justice said the spirit of Goa was not confined to its historic buildings or bustling lanes but lived within every Goan.
“Every citizen and resident of Goa seems to carry the DNA of antiquity, resilience, and beauty. This is what Goa stands for: preservation, heritage, and identity,” he remarked, warning that drug abuse threatens to erode it by seeping quietly into homes, classrooms, and communities.
CJI Surya Kant praised the month-long campaign, the launch of which he himself graced on December 26, for sparking dialogue and placing prevention and rehabilitation at the centre of public consciousness.
He noted that Goa had not merely hosted this initiative but engaged in a sustained conversation with its youth, families, schools, and colleges.
“The measure of a campaign lies not in its ambition but in its execution. What we have witnessed over the past month is nothing short of inspiration worthy,” he said.
He highlighted the delicate balance between law and compassion, cautioning that “law without compassion becomes tyranny and compassion without law becomes chaos.”
The campaign, he said, had struck this middle path by sensitising people without instilling fear, engaging families respectfully, and giving voice to homes and society.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant reiterated his government’s determination to make Goa a drug-free State.
He stressed the importance of collaboration between law enforcement, educational institutions, and civil society, and assured that rehabilitation centres and community policing initiatives would be strengthened.
CJI Surya Kant urged authorities to set a standard that other organisations could emulate, insisting that the campaign must continue until “every citizen, every house, and every person in Goa is absolutely confident that the menace of drugs has been completely eliminated.”
He pledged full cooperation of the judiciary, likening the effort to a “sleepless night” that must persist until Goa is shielded under a protective umbrella against drug abuse.
