Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant on Saturday said the purpose of legal education extends beyond learning the principles of criminal or constitutional law.
The CJI said that 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," he said.
He was speaking as Chancellor at the 34th convocation of the National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bangalore.
Earlier in the address, he spoke about what the legal profession demands. He said lawyers need the courage to defend what is just and the humility to listen to voices that often go 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," he added.
The CJI told the graduating students that a relentless pursuit of honesty will cement their professional reputation.
There will be times when compromise tempts and others take shortcuts, he said. In those moments, they should let the wisdom gained at NLSIU be their compass.
The CJI said graduates were stepping 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," he added.
He also remembered Urvashi Krishnatra, an LL.B. graduate at the university who has passed away. He said she should have been present to receive her degree and offered condolences to her family and friends on behalf of all present.
He thanked the parents for their sacrifice and belief, and praised the faculty and staff for challenging, supporting and inspiring the students. He ended by saying the nation looks to the graduates as "heralds of hope."
The lead up to the convocation at NLSIU was mired in controversy after NLSIU had earlier cancelled the ceremony scheduled for September 12 after issuing a notice announcing that no convocation would be held for the 2026 batch due to "unavoidable circumstances" and that students would be conferred their degrees in absentia.
The cancellation came amid a controversy over the proposed presence of CJI Kant and Mishra at the ceremony. More than 700 current students, graduating students and alumni had objected to their participation.
The development followed a separate controversy at NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad, where students had opposed the presence of CJI Kant at their convocation.
Note: An earlier version of this story was based on a copy of the speech shared with Bar & Bench by official sources. A revised version of the speech, as delivered by the Chief Justice of India (CJI), was subsequently shared with us by the same sources. The story has been revised and republished accordingly.