Law & Literature

The journey of a law graduate is like a river breaking free from the stillness of a mountain spring- CJI Surya Kant

Justice, Liberty, and Legal Education: The Presidential Address of CJI Surya Kant at NLSIU’s 34th Convocation

On 17 October 2026, the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India, Justice Surya Kant, delivered the Presidential Address at the 34th Annual Convocation of the National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru. Addressing the graduating students, he reflected on the purpose of legal education, the ethical responsibilities of the legal profession, and the enduring importance of justice, liberty, intellectual independence, and constitutional values. Emphasising the need to engage with diverse perspectives, uphold professional integrity, and remain committed to public service, his address offered a reflection on the responsibilities that accompany the study and practice of law.

The following is the text of the Presidential Address published by NLSIU.

It is a profound pleasure to join you all for this momentous occasion at National Law School of India University. I am acutely aware of the weighty path you are about to embark upon, and I greet you not only with congratulations but also with immense expectation.
This day marks the culmination of years of discipline, determination, and intellectual brilliance – an odyssey that has been shaped within the hallowed halls of this illustrious institution you all like to refer to as the ‘Harvard of the East’.
Today, we celebrate not only your academic feats but also the voyage that has brought you to this moment – a journey that, for so many of you, began and unfolded within the cherished walls of the Old Academic Block. Its sunlit corridors and timeworn staircases hold more than just classrooms – I’m told that it has witnessed its fair share of quad parties and impromptu flash mobs in the courtyard!
NLSIU has long been recognised as a beacon of legal scholarship and an incubator of justice. To have studied here is to have been entrusted with a tradition of distinction, one that stretches far beyond textbooks and case law.
From the very first day, NLSIU demanded excellence from you – not as a lofty aspiration but as a way of life. The Academic Rigour here is both legendary and transformative. Word has it that, this means 8AM CPC classes, late nights sustained by black coffee and project deadlines arriving almost as quickly as reminders from the Academic Administration Department. Seeing your smiling faces today, I take it that you survived that gruelling experience, maybe even learnt to make peace with it!
You have navigated a curriculum that tested the limits of your endurance and intellect, engaged in moot courts where every argument was both a test and a triumph, and collaborated on research that pushed the boundaries of legal thought. Each lecture, each seminar and each case study was a step toward mastering not just the law, but the discipline and tenacity it requires.
This academic journey, demanding as it has been, was never about books alone. It has prepared you for the real world of the legal profession, where each day brings new complexities and where intellectual agility meets ethical responsibility. The diligence of your NLSIU years has honed your ability to analyse, adapt, and advocate. It has instilled in you the resilience to withstand pressure, the clarity to see nuance where others see confusion, and the courage to stand firm in the face of challenge.
I often find myself ruminating on how the legal profession is not for the faint of heart. It demands not only the mastery of statutes and precedent but also the courage to defend what is just, and the humility to listen to voices that are often unheard. This intellectual independence also calls for fairness: hearing before judging, distinguishing a person from a position and disagreeing without denying another person’s dignity.
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 practice it. The cases you argue, the contracts you draft, the advice you give, and the judgments you write will all contribute to the larger architecture of justice in our nation.
My dear students, you have been equipped for this noble mission. Within these classrooms, you have debated the contours of rights and responsibilities, wrestled with the complexities of justice and learned to navigate the delicate balance between law and equity.
Law school is a crucible where ideas collide, where convictions are tested, and where the very essence of dialogue is forged. The purpose of a legal education extends beyond learning the principles of criminal or constitutional law; it rests in the invigorating experience of encountering those who see the world differently than we do.
Within these halls, we sit beside people whose backgrounds, beliefs and interpretations challenge our own. Each time we listen to perspectives that diverge from ours, we are reminded that the law itself is a living conversation, one that is shaped by voices that do not always harmonise, but together create the symphony of justice.
It is your relentless pursuit of honesty which will cement your professional reputation. There will come times when compromise tempts, when expediency entices, and when others take breezy shortcuts. And it is in those moments that you must let the wisdom imparted here be your compass and stay true to the values you have imbibed in this eminent institution.
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. Law will challenge your patience, test your ethics, and call upon the deepest reserves of your courage. But it will also reward you with the singular joy of service – the serene satisfaction of righting a wrong, the pride of defending liberty, and the honour of upholding the Constitution.
The journey of a law graduate is like a river breaking free from the stillness of a mountain spring, carrying with it the echoes of ancient wisdom and the promise of new discovery. In law school, the waters gather in the cloistered valleys of study, winding through narrow channels of precedent and doctrine, learning to navigate the rocks of reason and the bends of logic. Upon graduation, the river widens, flowing into the vast and unpredictable sea of the legal profession, where each current represents the lives, conflicts and stories of humanity. Here, the young advocate becomes both navigator and steward, charged with guiding the course of justice, knowing that every ripple of their work touches the distant shores of society.
Dear students, let us also take a moment to remember Miss Urvashi Krishnatra, a young and vibrant member of the NLS family and a graduate of the L.L.B. programme, who is unfortunately no longer with us. She should have been here today, receiving her well deserved degree and sharing this milestone with her classmates. On behalf of all those present, I offer my heartfelt condolences to her family and friends. May the memories they hold of her bring them lasting strength and comfort.
As we exalt the convocation of our worthy students, let me for a moment, give credit where it is truly due: to the parents, whose love, sacrifice and unwavering belief have carried these graduates to this pinnacle of achievement. Today, robed in the dignity of their accomplishments, your children carry with them not just degrees, but the embodiment of your hopes, dreams and aspirations. This victory is as much yours as it is theirs.
My deepest admiration also goes out to the faculty and staff of NLSIU. Through both mentorship and example, you have challenged your pupils intellectually, supported them emotionally, and inspired them morally. It is amply clear that institutions are not built by bricks and mortar alone, but by the minds and hearts that animate them. And it is your collective resolve that has given life to this university’s legacy and purpose.
My dear graduates, as you step out into the world, know that the nation looks to you – not just as practitioners of law but as heralds of hope. May your careers be distinguished, your endeavours impactful and your contributions everlasting. I wish each of you boundless success and fulfilment in all that you do.