Dr Rajendra Prasad National Law University (RPNLU), Prayagraj recently organized the second episode of its flagship series, ‘In Conversation with Legal Luminary’ featuring Supreme Court, Senior Advocate Vijay Hansaria.
The conversation was moderated by Vice-Chancellor, RPNLU Prof (Dr) Usha Tandon, who steered the dialogue with her questions. The session saw participation from students from across programmes of the University, including the BA LLB (Hons.) course and the LLM cohort.
At the outset of the conversation, Senior Advocate Hansaria was asked whether being the son of a judge meant he had been 'born with a silver spoon'. He dispelled the notion that privilege did not equate to comfort or an easy path. He recounted his professional journey. Decades of experience, he noted, were the product of constant hard work.
Addressing the role of technology, Senior Advocate Hansaria reflected on how research practices have changed. Earlier, lawyers and judges would spend long hours buried in books; today, online databases have made resources instantly accessible. He acknowledged that artificial intelligence can be a useful tool but warned against allowing technology to induce complacency or replace human intellect.
Skills such as speed typing and efficient use of digital platforms are critical. He stressed they must complement rather than substitute human reasoning.
Senior Advocate Hansaria offered a candid reflection of the changing landscape of the legal profession. He highlighted the rise in the number of women entering the field.
The discussion also turned toward his professional contributions. He recalled his role in the landmark Electoral Bonds case, where he argued that informed voting was undermined by the opacity surrounding political funding. He reflecteds upon constitutional values and transparency in democratic institutions.
He also shared his concerns regarding the increasing number of legislators facing criminal charges, noting that nearly 40 per cent of Members of Parliament and 42 per cent of ministers have cases pending against them, a reality that challenges public perception and faith in governance.
Throughout the session, he touched upon issues of judicial accountability, media’s role in shaping perceptions, and the responsibilities of lawyers as officers of the court. Sharing his personal journey from a practicing lawyer to a Senior Advocate of the Supreme Court.
A particularly memorable segment was the rapid-fire round, moderated by Dr Usha Tandon.
In the round, Senior Advocate Hansaria was asked to describe eminent judges such as Justice PN Bhagwati, Justice Murtaza Fazal Ali, and Justice Fathima Beevi in a single word, and later to share personal reflections on his role models.
The interactive nature of the episode kept the audience deeply engaged. Students posed questionscon diverse themes ranging from his first experience arguing before the Supreme Court, to the challenges of dealing with matters like homosexuality, to the balance between knowing the law and understanding the judge.
In response, he emphasized the importance of preparation, ethical advocacy, and the ability to adapt to different judicial temperaments.
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