New Delhi: Union Law and Justice Minister M Veerappa Moily has been conferred the `Next Step Foundation 2010` award for his outstanding contribution to International Legal Co-operation.
The Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons, Nigel Evans, presented the prestigious award to Moily at a function organised at the House of Commons in London by Rt Hon Keith Vaz, MP, Chairman, Home Affairs Committee on July 8.
"The Indian Law Minister has been chosen for the award for undertaking the herculean task of improving the system of delivery of justice by incorporating the best international legal practice including that of the UK," said Vaz on the occasion.
Moily`s latest book titled `Ramayana Mahanveshanam` an ambitious epic running into 1,700 pages and 43,000 lines was also released on the occasion.
"Ramayan narrative is very relevant today as it depicts an ideal society - Ramarajya - non-violent and secular, governed by egalitarianism, a society in which every person, irrespective of his or her sex, class, caste, and religion has equal rights and responsibilities, a new society, which was envisaged by the fathers of Indian Constitution," said Moily.
He also pointed out that the focus of his Ramayana was that for 14 years, when Lord Rama was in exile, it was neither Rama nor Bharat, who ruled Ayodhya. But it was the people, who ruled the kingdom themselves.
Moily said his book also emphasised on ``dharma`` which includes law, custom, duty, rights, justice, character and right action.
Referring to UK-India bilateral relations, Moily said he was quite excited about how the bilateral relation was evolving.
"The very fact that Britain`s new Coalition Prime Minister David Cameron is visiting India, his first visit as premier, shows the importance he attached to the bilateral relations," said Moily.
ANI
