Add more skills to excel, former CJI D.Y. Chandrachud advises students at Karnataka State Law University convocation

Former CJI D.Y. Chandrachud, former chief minister Veerappa Moily and Chairman of Law Commission of Karnataka Justice Ashok Hinchigeri were conferred honorary doctoral degrees during the convocation.

Former Chief Justice of India Dhananjay Y. Chandrachud has said that with the times becoming more complex, it has become mandatory for students to add more skills to their repertorie in order to excel in the competitive world.

He was delivering the convocation address at the Sixth Annual Convocation of Karnataka State Law University (KSLU) held at the Farmers’ Knowledge Centre on the campus of University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS) in Dharwad on Friday (November 29, 2024).

“Times are more complex now. The field is more competitive, lot more diverse than it was earlier. And consequently, there are more challenges. But there is always room for changes. What you do is not important but how you do it is important. Give your best efforts, there is always room for imrpovement,” he said.

Emphasising the need for students to be themselves, he asked them not to emulate seniors, peers or fellow students. He said the road less taken or the road never taken is always worth treading.

Opposed to grading among law schools

The former chief justice expressed dipleasure over the practice of grading among law institutions and said that he did not endorse the practice of ranking national law schools above other law institutions. “I am firmly of the view that such classification is devoid of any logic,” he said, referring to the argument of advocate Nambiyar before the Supreme Court and added that instituion affiliations would not follow anyone to the court room.

Justice Chandrachud said that the identity of the nation had several individual identities within. “The ability of the nation to preserve the identifies based on culture, region and religion has led to creation of a social fabric in the country,” he said.

Taking a stroll down memory lane, Justice Chandrachud recalled his childhood visit to Dharwad, where his father’s first cousin stayed and how it had changed now.

He also reminded the students that the finest legal minds that the country had come across were those who had a passion for law. He asked them to read widely about intersecting disciplines or unrelated aspects of life as every field had something to learn from. ‘Don’t go by the text of law but by its context to the society,” he said.

Honorary doctorates

During the convocation, Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, former Karnataka chief minister Veerappa Moily, and Chairman of Law Commission of Karnataka and former High Court judge Justice Ashok Hinchigeri were conferred with honorary doctoral degrees. Responding to the honour, Mr. Veerappa Moily and Justice Ashok Hinchigeri addressed the gathering.

H.K. Patil, Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Legislation and Tourism and Pro Chancellor of KSLU said that the State governemnt had initiated the process for setting up 100 ‘grama nyayalas’ by year-end to take justice delivery to people’s doorsteps.

In all 5,234 candidates were awarded various law degrees and doctoral degrees. Ten gold medals, cash prizes and certificates were given to the toppers and meritorious students during the convocation. Vice Chancellor Prof. C. Basavaraju welcomed the dignitaries and presented the report of the university. Registrars Anuradha Vastrad and Ratna Bharamgoudar, deans and syndicate members were present.

Published - November 29, 2024 03:24 pm IST