Mangaluru: “Legal knowledge plays a vital role in managing an institution and institutions should work within the legal framework,” said Supreme Court advocate Fr Ravi Sagar S J here on Thursday, August 29.

He was addressing the gathering at a two-day Management Development Programme (MDP) on ‘Managing an institution for clergy and religious’ organised by the department of business administration at St Joseph Engineering College (SJEC) in Vamanjoor.

“Although the management of an institution keeps on changing, they should work within the orbit of the legal framework. If an institution is not ready to work within the legal framework, it will definitely not survive,” he said.

In his presidential address to the gathering, Mangalore Diocese Bishop Rev Dr Peter Paul Saldanha said that managing an institution in the present day requires a deep understanding of its structure, the law affecting it and the management of the properties it owns. “The problems within the institution should be rectified internally and should not go out into the open. Conflicts or misunderstandings between persons in an institution is very common, but it should be resolved internally. If we fight each other for simple reasons, others will use the opportunity and gain from the turmoil. The management should, therefore, not allow for such situations and resolve problems amongst themselves,” he added.

During the course of the two-day programme, there will be lectures, discussions and interactions with resource persons like Fr Ravi Sangar SJ, Fr Konrad Noronha SJ and Prof Lionel Aranha.

SJEC Principal Dr Rio D’Souza welcomed the gathering. MDP Chairman Dr Prakash Pinto proposed a vote of thanks. SJEC director Rev Fr Wilfred Prakash D’Souza, Assistant Director Rev Fr Alwyn R D’Souza, Vicar General of the Mangalore Diocese Maxim Noronha, MDP convener Dr Shakila B and others were present.