Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Chancellor of the National Law School of India University (NLSIU), urged graduating law students to uphold intellectual independence, fairness, ethical responsibility and constitutional values while addressing the University’s 34th Convocation Ceremony on Saturday.
Emphasising the importance of engaging with differing perspectives, the CJI said that legal education extends beyond learning statutes and judicial precedents. It also involves encountering people whose backgrounds, beliefs and interpretations challenge one’s own.
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“Intellectual independence also calls for fairness: hearing before judging, distinguishing a person from a position and disagreeing without denying another person’s dignity,” he said.
Describing the legal profession as one that demands intellectual rigour and moral courage, the CJI urged graduates to defend what is just and listen to voices that are often unheard. He observed that their years at NLSIU had equipped them to analyse, adapt and advocate, while developing the resilience to withstand pressure, recognise nuance and stand firm in the face of challenges.
The CJI also highlighted the importance of dialogue in legal education, observing that law school is a space where ideas collide and convictions are tested. He said that encountering people with different backgrounds, beliefs and interpretations reinforces the understanding that law is a living conversation shaped by diverse voices.
“The law, as you will soon discover in its living form, is not static. It breathes and evolves through the minds and actions of those who practise it,” he said, adding that the cases lawyers argue, the contracts they draft, the advice they give and the judgments they write contribute to the larger architecture of justice.
Urging graduates to remain steadfast in their professional values, the CJI cautioned against compromising principles for expediency or taking shortcuts. He called on them to let the wisdom imparted at the institution guide their decisions and help them maintain their professional integrity.
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“As you leave this campus, you step not only into a profession but into a calling to be guardians of autonomy and servants of the people,” he said.
Describing the journey of a law graduate as a river flowing from the confines of academic study into the vast and unpredictable sea of the legal profession, the CJI said young advocates must learn to navigate the lives, conflicts and stories of humanity. He emphasised that their work would have consequences extending far beyond individual cases.
During his address, the CJI also paid tribute to Urvashi Krishnatra, an NLSIU LL.B. graduate who had passed away, expressing heartfelt condolences to her family and friends. He noted that she should have been present to receive her degree and share the milestone with her classmates.
The CJI acknowledged the role of parents in supporting the graduates through their sacrifices and unwavering belief, and expressed admiration for the faculty and staff whose mentorship and example had contributed to the students’ intellectual, emotional and moral development.
Concluding his address, he described the graduates as heralds of hope and encouraged them to serve society, uphold the Constitution and make meaningful contributions through their professional endeavours.