Rule of law continues to prevail in India because of an independent judiciary supported by an independent bar, Supreme Court Justice BV Nagarathna said on Saturday.

Speaking at the convocation ceremony of National Law University, Delhi, Justice Nagarathna linked the survival of democracy to the mutual commitment of lawyers and judges.

“Connected with separation of powers is the independence of the judiciary. Rule of law being the most significant characteristic of good governance prevails because India has an independent judiciary which has been sustained amongst others because of support and assistance from an independent bar,” she said.

Justice Nagarathna told the graduating students that a lawyer’s duty is not only towards a client but also towards the Constitution and the society.

Responsibility to work the Constitution extends to every lawyer and not just people in power, she underscored.

Drawing on the words of Dr BR Ambedkar in the Constituent Assembly, she said that the Constitution would only be as good as those entrusted to work it. For lawyers, that meant being lifelong stewards of constitutional values.

“The responsibility to work the constitution in all its magnanimity and good intentions does not lie only with the people of the power corridors but it extends to every lawyer who should be an advocate of the Constitution. You as a lawyer are a steward of the constitution for life,” the top court judge stated.

She reminded the graduating students that in moments of ethical conflict, it is their integrity that would matter most.

“The foundation of a fulfilling legal career is not brilliance or oratory, not eloquence, not even technical expertise. It is integrity and to enhance the faith in the system. Integrity is built not in a day, but over years, in every choice you make, in every argument you decline to twist, in every opportunity you forego because it compromises your principles,” she said.

She stressed that a life in law was not merely a career but public service. With training to interpret, argue and persuade came a responsibility to use those skills in the pursuit of justice rather than private gain.

“Legal training equips you with a special kind of power. The power to interpret, to argue, to persuade and to decide. But with this power comes a trust. A trust that you will use your skill not in pursuit of a private gain but in service of public good,” she said.

Justice Nagarathna also reflected on how law is often seen as a fortress for the rich and powerful but must become a bridge for all.

“Too often the law is seen as a fortress accessible to the rich and powerful but in your hands it must become a bridge. A bridge between rights and remedies, Constitution and citizen, between justice and people. Remember the law belongs to everyone but everyone cannot afford to access it. You can be the difference that ensures that this access is not denied,” she said.

Further, she called upon graduates to view law not merely as rules but as a tool to advance human dignity. In a society where inequalities persist, the profession holds the potential to be a vehicle for transformation, she opined.

“Law is not just about rules; it is about purpose. It is about creating conditions in which human dignity can flourish. It is also ensuring that every person regardless of wealth, status, caste, gender, or belief is treated as an equal subject before the law,” she said.

The judge emphasised that graduates must take constitutional values into everyday life, ensuring justice reaches beyond courtrooms.

“You are not merely service providers in a professional sense. You are, or must become, translators of the Constitution into the language of the people’s lives,” she said.

The judge also cautioned against misusing legal technicalities for personal advantage at the cost of justice.

She explained that the transformative nature of the Constitution lay in both redefining the relationship between citizen and State, and reconstructing society to remove entrenched inequalities. This, she said, requires every generation of lawyers to carry forward the unfinished project of justice.

Closing her address, Justice Nagarathna urged graduates to measure success not by financial gains but by the positive impact they bring to society.

“Remember, the measure of your success should not be merely financial, but also the positive impact you make on the society,” she said.

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