Students take vow to lead a life of integrity

LUCKNOW: A candlelight march was organised at Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow, (IIM-L), campus in the memory of Manjunath Shanmugam who was killed while fighting corruption on November 19, 2005.

An alumnus of IIM-L, Manjunath was a manager with the Indian Oil Corporation (

IOC

) posted in

Lakhimpur

where he was shot dead by the oil mafia for sealing petrol pumps that sold adulterated fuel.

The march, organised by the Manjunath Shanmugam Trust (MST), was not only restricted to the IIM-L but spread across the various B-schools across India, including IIMs of Kozhikode, Bodhgaya, Ranchi, Rohtak, Vizag,

Shillong

, Kashipur and Indus Business Academy, Bengaluru.

It was followed by the pledge that the students took: “I commit to lead a life of integrity”.

The Manjunath Shanmugam Trust (MST) — an initiative of business school alumni across the world who have joined hands to improve governance in Indian public life — fought the case relentlessly.

After a record ninemonth trial, all eight accused were found guilty, with the main accused being served the death sentence and the remaining being given life imprisonment.

The accused appealed in the Allahabad high court. The Lucknow bench of the high court upheld the conviction and life imprisonment of the six main accused — including the petrol pump owner.

This judgment, said students, was a big victory for the people of India and for all those who believe in the rule of law. The convicts had appealed against the verdict in the Supreme Court. On March 11, 2015, the Supreme Court upheld the high court verdict.

India’s first national RTI Act helpline was set up by MST in association with a noted NGO on November 19, 2006, to mark the first death anniversary of Manjunath.