Bengaluru: The Karnataka chapter of Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) marked a significant milestone with the inauguration of its new state office here. The inauguration ceremony was led by Dr. Subhash Bharani, retired Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), who stressed the urgent need for collective efforts to uphold human dignity and constitutional safeguards.
The event witnessed the presence of several eminent personalities, including Adv. P. Usman, National Vice President of APCR; Sudheer Kumar Muroli, President of APCR Karnataka; Huligappa Katti Mane of Spandana (Mysuru); M.R. Suresh, retired Deputy Conservator of Forests; and Chidananda, former Joint Director in the Department of Women and Child Development.
Also in attendance were prominent lawyers, civil society leaders, and human rights defenders from across the state. The gathering served as a reaffirmation of APCR’s commitment to justice, civil liberties, and the rule of law.
In his keynote address, Dr. Bharani voiced concern over the gradual erosion of humanitarian values in society. He warned that silence and inaction pose serious threats to democracy and called for united and proactive engagement in defending the rights enshrined in the Constitution.
Highlighting APCR’s role in civil society, Advocate P. Usman outlined the organisation’s contributions in legal advocacy and its persistent efforts to safeguard the rights of the marginalised. He emphasised the importance of institutions like APCR in the current socio-political climate, where constitutional values are increasingly under strain.
Presiding over the event, Mr. Sudheer Kumar Muroli noted that APCR’s relevance has grown manifold in recent years. “The need to protect constitutional rights and amplify the voices of the oppressed is more urgent than ever,” he remarked, urging active public engagement with APCR’s initiatives.
Other speakers who shared their perspectives included Vice President Adv. Akhila, Gerald D. Souza, Adv. B.T. Venkatesh, Mavalli Shankar, A.G. Kaiser, and Mallige – all of whom underscored the necessity of collective efforts to protect civil liberties.
The programme was conducted by Mohammed Niyaz, General Secretary of APCR Karnataka, who presented an overview of the organisation’s mission and formally concluded the event with a vote of thanks.
Noteworthy attendees included Khalid, former KAS officer and advisor to the Political Secretary; Harshavardhan Umre, former Commissioner of GST and Customs, Government of India; as well as executive members M. Kunhi, Hussain, Shajiha, Mehdi Kaleem, Adv. Sayeed Akmal Razvi, Sheikh Shafi, Adv. Manvi, Adv. Maitri, and others.
