Hon’ble Mr. Justice Surya Kant, Judge of the Supreme Court of India, delivered the inaugural address at the International Convention on the Independence of the Judiciary and the launch of the World’s Largest Moot Court at O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU). The event also marked the commencement of the International Mooting Academy for Advocacy, Negotiation, Dispute Adjudication, Arbitration and Resolution (IMAANDAAR), an initiative envisioned to advance global excellence in dispute resolution and legal advocacy.

Addressing a distinguished gathering of judges, scholars, and practitioners from India and abroad, Justice Surya Kant emphasized that the enduring strength of constitutional democracy rests upon judicial independence and the integrity of legal professionals.

“Integrity is what you do when no one is watching, and courage is what you do when everyone is,” Justice Surya Kant remarked, adding that imandari must remain the foundational ethic of the legal profession in an age where “truth must compete with noise.”

Highlighting India’s constitutional history, he described the Kesavananda Bharati judgment as a “profound affirmation” of India’s commitment to the Rule of Law, asserting that the Basic Structure doctrine remains the moral compass safeguarding democratic institutions from absolutism.

He noted that the Constitution must continuously evolve to address 21st-century challenges such as digital privacy, artificial intelligence, and climate justice while staying rooted in the core values of liberty, equality, fraternity, and human dignity.

Commending JGU’s initiative, the Hon’ble Judge praised the University for creating “a living forum where ideas meet ideals,” stating that the inauguration of IMAANDAAR signals India’s growing leadership in global legal education.

In his concluding note to students, Justice Surya Kant said:

“You are the stewards of what comes next. Let integrity be the basic structure of your character and let nothing amend it.”