Surya Kant Urges NLSIU Graduates to Uphold Justice

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant urged graduates at the National Law School of India University’s 34th convocation to defend justice and liberty, uphold constitutional values and practise law with courage and integrity. He also called on them to listen to perspectives that are often overlooked and to remain true to their professional principles. Speaking at the ceremony in Bengaluru on October 17, Surya Kant said legal practice was not for the faint-hearted. It requires more than knowledge of statutes and precedents, he said, including the courage to stand up for what is just and the humility to hear people whose voices are often unheard. He described legal education as extending beyond academic study, saying that engagement with people who see the world differently prepares students to serve society. Surya Kant also said law is not static but evolves through the work of those who practise it. The chief justice cautioned graduates against compromising their principles for convenience or taking shortcuts, and urged them to stay guided by the values they had learned at NLSIU. He emphasized the need for fairness when considering differing views, including hearing others before...