'Upholding human rights is the only way to ensure national security'

September 23, 2011

Mangalore, September 23: One of the most urgent tasks before the human rights community in India is to focus consistently on the root causes of human rights violation both nationally and internationally and its specific political context, according to Nadoja Dr Justice S R Nayak, Chairperson, Karnataka State Human Rights Commission.

Addressing the students as chief guest at the inaugural session of the UGC sponsored national seminar on 'Human Rights –Changing Trends and Challenges in India' organised by St Agnes College, here on Friday, Mr Nayak said that the war on terror is an attack on rights and dignity of the workers, urban and rural poor. “According to the Bureau of Labour Statistics, at least 30 million full time workers in the US have been laid off since Reagan”, he said.

He pointed out that in 50 countries there are officially 25 million internally displaced people apart from 15 million refugees.

Mr Nayak also said that there is a need to focus on the fact that the human rights violations on a world scale are due to the unfair terms of international trade and have resulted in destruction of millions of culture, economies and ecology.

“We should counter the argument that human rights must be sacrificed for national security – in fact preservation of human rights standards is the only way to ensure our nation remains secure; human rights violations leads to greater alienation of the victims,” he said.

He also said that fighting against the systematic criminalisation of minorities as a whole; this requires a clear vision on the rights of minorities within a democratic polity.

“Systematic documentation of violation of human rights and specific context in which it occurs; expose the corporate interests that are promoting the war against terror,” he said adding that minorities individually and their organisations are the specific targets of this war against terror.

He said it is essential in the country to ensure the decent and dignified life to all by extending the benefits of socio-economic justice measures, safety and security and to develop a concept of solidarity which is based on a vision of multi-cultural society but distinguish it from State sponsored integration policies which are both patronising and oppressive.

“This could be achieved only by a good governance”, he added.

M Veerappa Moily, Central Minister for Corporate Affairs inaugurated the programme. Dr Shashikala Gurpur, Member, Central Law Commission, India, delivered key note address.

Dr M Prem D'Souza AC, Principal, St Agnes College (Autonomous) presided over the programme.

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Who is Ramachandra Rao? Karnataka DGP, actress Ranya’s stepfather suspended over viral ‘obscene’ video

News Network

January 20,2026

Karnataka DGP (Civil Rights Enforcement) K Ramachandra Rao was suspended with immediate effect, as per a state government order issued on Monday, 19 January. The order cited conduct unbecoming of a government servant and causing embarrassment to the state administration.

The Karnataka government suspended Rao after a purported video showed him in a compromising position with a woman inside his official chamber. The video went viral on social media. Rao rejected the videos outright, terming them "fabricated and false".

Who is K Ramachandra Rao?

Rao is a DGP-rank officer who was heading the Directorate of Civil Rights Enforcement until his suspension. He was promoted to DGP in September 2023 and assumed office in October 2023, the Sunday Guardian reported.

He also served as the Chairman and Managing Director of the Karnataka State Police Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited.

His stint as the Inspector General of Police (IGP) for the Southern Range was also marred by controversy. In 2014, during a cash seizure near Mysuru’s Yelwal, officials claimed the seized amount was ₹20 lakh, while the accused (Kerala-based merchants) claimed it was around ₹2.27 crore.

Rao, who was present during the seizure, denied all allegations. However, he was transferred soon after.

Allegations of collusion with a businessman surfaced, and a senior police officer was quoted by The Sunday Guardian as saying, “In Rao’s case, the CID has clearly mentioned that there was a great degree of lapse on the part of Rao and a deputy superintendent of police after it was brought to their notice that a few policemen, including a gunman attached to the IGP, were involved in the robbery.”

Rao had denied all wrongdoing in that incident. Despite past controversies, he rose to the state’s top police position, the Sunday Guardian reported.

Ranya Rao’s stepfather

Rao is the stepfather of Kannada actress Harshavardhini Ranya alias Ranya Rao, accused of orchestrating the illegal import of gold worth over ₹12.56 crore from Dubai to India along with two others — businessman Tarun Raju, and jewellery dealer Sahil Jain.

‘Obscene video’ controversy

A viral video showed Rao behaving inappropriately with a woman inside his office while in uniform.

The Karnataka government said in its Monday order that “vide videos and news reports widely broadcast on public news channels and media platforms, it is observed that Dr K Ramachandra Rao has acted in an obscene manner which is unbecoming of a Government Servant and also causing embarrassment to the Government.”

The order said the matter was examined by the state government, which found that the officer's conduct amounted to a violation of Rule 3 of the All India Services (Conduct) Rules, 1968.

The government said it is prima facie satisfied that "it is necessary to place Rao under suspension with immediate effect, pending inquiry".

During the suspension period, Rao will be entitled to subsistence allowance as per Rule 4 of the All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1969.

The order also places restrictions on his movement, stating that during the period of suspension, the officer must not leave headquarters under any circumstances without the written permission of the state government.

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