Having lived through Emergency, I firmly believe in raising critical questions: Justice S Ravindra Bhat

Supreme Court judge Justice S Ravindra Bhat on Saturday exhorted law graduates and young lawyers to always raise critical questions and uphold Constitutional values..Justice Bhat said that as someone who had to live through emergency, the importance of raising questions cannot be overstated."Your life is not determined by the accolades you accomplish but rather by the choices you make along the way. As someone who has lived through the Emergency, I have a firm conviction that our collective ability to raise critical and honest questions will profoundly shape the society as we wish to construct. I implore each of you to explore forthright answers. It is on you to preserve the culture of the constitution, which is following the rule of the law. You have to rekindle at every corner, the torch of liberty and equality," he said.The Supreme Court judge was delivering the keynote address at the 10th convocation ceremony of the National Law University, Delhi.The judge said that in the past, there were only very few women pursuing law, a development in sharp contrast with the present times."Today it is heartening to see how far we have come though I am aware we are in Delhi and our reference point is an urban metropolis. We must strive to work on equality so every person does not face unnecessary hurdles. Then women can practice law without hurdles even after they graduate," he opined. .Justice Bhat also reminded the graduating students that life is not like a 2-minute instant noodles journey, but one that requires time and patience to fully harness knowledge. "To all of you equally I would like to say it is perfectly alright to not have all answers or all aspects of your life figured out. I hope you give these the chance to change as you meander through life. The ones you did not anticipate offer opportunities for learning. Choices and decisions are not merely relevant when made in corridors of power or Constitutional courts. You will have the option to choose the easy and pragmatic path, or the one that is more challenging and demanding but is morally right," he said.Pertinently, he urged law schools to also impart training on practical aspects of law instead of leaving them to be learnt at the job by lawyers.Justice Bhat also advised the law graduates to think of how they can contribute to the society, regardless of whether they chose litigation or the corporate field as their career path."At the end of the day people consult lawyers in times of hardship. How you interact and impact them is agnostic of your legal knowledge. I hope you internalise the practice that you need not be the best lawyer but one whose eagerness to learn and harness knowledge is never ending. It is crucial to be kind and empathetic. Success is not defined by material gains and accomplishments but a life well lived," he stated.The Supreme Court judge also advised law students to embrace their inner callings and sense of adventure..Follow Bar and Bench channel on WhatsAppDownload the Bar and Bench Mobile app for instant access to the latest legal news.