Bangalore: CM inaugurates building donated by Colaco to advocates
Denzil Fernandes
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Jul 22: Devanahalli is the new hub of Bangalore with the international airport and the recent developments that have seen the area getting huge attention from every angle. There is something happening around Devanahalli almost every day with the government eyeing expansion plans in the area. Adding to the prestige and position of the place was the new and magnificent Adovates’ Association Building solely constructed for the benefit of the advocates who do their duty under testing conditions. The idea of constructing the building mooted by NRI philanthropist Ronald Colaco meant that the local legal community found an umbrella to take shelter and continue with their noble work of providing justice and legal assistance to the local rural community.
The official handing over of the keys to the building took place at an impressive ceremony on Saturday July 20, at Devanahalli. The occasion also saw the chief minister Siddaramaiah making his first visit to the place after becoming the CM. Along with him was Veerappa Moily, union minister for petroleum and natural gas, T B Jayachandra, state minister for law, justice and human rights and Justice K L Manjunath, judge, High Court of Karnataka. Other dignitaries included Justice Ram Mohan Reddy, judge, High Court of Karnataka, Justice Dilip B Bhosale, judge, High Court of Karnataka and administrative judge, Bangalore Rural district, Krishna Byregowda, minister for agriculture and minister in-charge of Bangalore Rural, MLA Pillamunishamappa representing Devanahalli constituency and others.
First and foremost, donor Ronald Colaco was honoured by the chief minister with a Mysore peta and mammoth garland, shawl, fruit basket and memento in the presence of the political dignitaries.
The ministers and the guests toured the entire complex of the Advocates’ Association Building after the chief minister inaugurated the building. Central minister Moily laid the foundation stone for the first floor of Advocates’ Association Building, Justice K L Manjunath inaugurated the first floor wing of the Court building and minister T B Jayachandra laid the foundation stone for the canteen building.
At this point, Ronald Colaco had to leave the function due to some other emergency elsewhere and could not attend the stage programme.
The stage programme began with the traditional 'Nadageethe' followed by John Michael Cunha, principal district & sessions judge Bangalore Rural district, Bangalore who welcomed the elite gathering. Cunha emphasised the growing importance of Devanahalli mainly due to the international airport and also appreciated Ronald Colaco for his noble gesture in erecting the building at an enormous cost to his pocket.
NRI Ronald Colaco is also a resident of Devanahalli where his most famous Hollywood Town and Swiss Town complex is a haven for all those staying there. He has developed the surrounding areas by building access roads and schools at his own personal cost. In and around the area, the locals have benefited mainly due to his philanthropic work. Originally hailing from Mangalore, he has been the lifeline of villagers in his area having supported to establish pipelines and borewells in his attempt to provide water. Housing for the poor, mass marriages, etc. have been in his programme to help the downtrodden. This apart, his largesse has helped Internal Security / police, Revenue, Horticulture, City Corporation, Zilla Panchayat, state of the art roads for PWD, Religious, Educational, Social, Cultural, Sports, Health Care, Community Halls or for the under privileged, housing for the poor and not even spared in providing facilities for the departed souls . His helping hand has reached temples, mosques, churches and other institutions also.
Justice K L Manjunath was the first one to speak where he asked Devanahalli lawyers to ensure that at least 22% cases are settled quickly. Justic Ram Mohan Reddy impressed with his stories saying that both Siddaramaiah and Moily were also lawyers before becoming politicians. He appreciated the contribution by Ronald Colaco to put up the building.
Local MLA Pillamunishamappa was proud to say that within 2 months of his becoming MLA history has been created with the inauguaration of the building. He fondly remembered Tippu Sultan and Kempegowda who were both connected with Devanahalli. In his speech, he put up many demands to the Chief Minister and submitted a few petitions as well. Minister for Law, Justice and Human Rights T.B.Jayachandra was quick to hail the support given by Ronald Colaco to the Devanahalli legal community by undertaking to bear the cost of the Advocates’ Building.
It was then the turn of Central Minister Veerappa Moily who proudly announced that the Centre has agreed to rename the Bangalore International Airport as Kempegowda International Airport. He also promised to support the lawyers library and announced 50 lacs contribution from his connection with the oil companies while expecting another 50 lacs from the State government. He advised the lawyers to be brief and precise in their arguments in the court to save time and settle the cases which are more than 12000 in the court. Moily while showering praise on the development in Devanahalli was eloquent in his appreciation for Ronald Colaco whom he claimed as his long time family friend remembering all his charitable and social deeds for more than two decades. He was also quick to commend his help to the judiciary with the new building.
The chief minister seemed in a good mood and kept the audience in splits of laughter. Siddaramaiah praised the donor Ronald Colaco for his efforts to improve the Devanahalli areas with his unending support. While mentioning his close association with Ronald Colaco, he openly said that the Advocates’ Building is a great contribution by Ronald Colaco and thanked him. He also congratulated the UPA Government for renaming the airport in the name of Kempegowda. He jocularly said that despite 9 years of service as a lawyer he was not a good lawyer. But he said that he had managed to be the secretary of the Bar Association for 3 years. He asked the lawyers to develop confidence with the people and not to take them for a ride. Some lawyers were intentionally prolonging the cases lasting for more than 2 or 3 generations. He was concerned with the high number of pending cases (12000) and asked for quick action from everyone connected.
Justice Bhosale who is originally from Maharashtra said in his speech that he was happy to work in Bangalore and stay in the city for a long time.
The function ended with a vote of thanks by R Maregowda, president of Advocates Association who acknowledged the support from everyone. But he had a special word of thanks to Ronald Colaco without whom the building would not have come up. The programme ended with the singing of the National Anthem.
IFKCA convener Denis D'Silva and others were present.