CJI Surya Kant calls on graduates to ‘defend liberty, uphold Constitution’ at Bengaluru law college

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant asked graduating law students to treat law as both a profession and a public calling. He urged them to uphold justice, defend liberty and remain committed to constitutional values. He said legal work demands courage, integrity and careful listening, not only knowledge of statutes and precedents.

At NLSIU’s 34th annual convocation, he told students to hear different viewpoints before forming judgments. He asked them to distinguish a person from a position and disagree without denying anyone’s dignity. He also warned them against compromising principles when convenience or expediency becomes tempting.

His message matters because lawyers influence justice through every case argued, contract drafted, advice given and judgment written. Surya Kant said graduates should serve society beyond private professional roles. He described them as future guardians of autonomy and servants of the people, expected to contribute as heralds of hope.

The Chief Justice of India, or CJI, is the head of India’s Supreme Court and the senior-most judge in the country’s judicial system. The office carries responsibility for leading the Supreme Court’s work and supporting the administration of justice. The CJI also participates in constitutional interpretation and important cases involving rights, government powers and legal principles.

In practice, the CJI presides over Supreme Court proceedings and helps organise benches and judicial business. The Supreme Court hears appeals from lower courts and decides constitutional questions. Its rulings guide courts across India. The CJI’s public statements can also highlight professional duties, as Surya Kant did at NLSIU’s convocation.

The office matters because the Supreme Court is the country’s highest court. It provides a final judicial forum and helps maintain constitutional limits. Surya Kant used the position to remind new lawyers that justice requires courage, fairness, ethical responsibility and respect for differing views.

Surya Kant said legal education must go beyond memorising criminal or constitutional law. Students should encounter people with different experiences and viewpoints. This matters because lawyers work in a society where disputes involve unequal power, competing interests and people whose concerns may not receive attention.

He linked listening directly to fair judgment. At NLSIU, he urged graduates to hear different viewpoints before deciding, distinguish a person from a position and disagree without denying another person’s dignity. A lawyer who listens carefully can understand the real concern behind a legal dispute instead of relying on assumptions.

This approach strengthens both legal practice and public trust. It supports intellectual independence, fairness and ethical responsibility. Surya Kant said the profession demands humility as well as mastery of statutes and precedents. Graduates therefore leave law school expected to serve society, defend justice and recognise responsibilities beyond simply practising law.

For a lawyer, defending liberty means standing up when a person’s lawful freedom or autonomy is threatened. Upholding the Constitution means using legal knowledge to protect constitutional values and respect the limits it places on public and private power. These duties require more than technical skill. They require courage, integrity and independence.

The article gives a practical standard. Surya Kant said lawyers should defend what is just, listen to unheard voices and hear different viewpoints before judging. They should separate a person from a position and disagree without denying dignity. A lawyer may therefore challenge unfair treatment while still treating every participant respectfully.

This work can be demanding. The CJI warned that law will test patience and ethics, especially when compromise or expediency looks attractive. Yet he said lawyers can find satisfaction in correcting injustice, defending individual liberty and upholding the Constitution. Their choices also shape the wider architecture of justice and their professional reputation.

When lawyers compromise principles, justice can become less fair and less reliable. Shortcuts may mean ignoring relevant concerns, weakening careful legal work or accepting conduct that conflicts with honesty. People who depend on lawyers may feel unprotected, especially when their voices are already overlooked. Public trust can suffer when professional duties appear negotiable.

Surya Kant warned graduates that compromise would tempt them and expediency would entice them. He asked them not to follow breezy shortcuts taken by others. Instead, they should let the values learned at NLSIU guide their choices. His emphasis was on honesty, fairness, courage and ethical responsibility under pressure.

The consequences extend beyond one case. Every case argued, contract drafted, advice given and judgment written contributes to the country’s larger architecture of justice. Consistent integrity can strengthen confidence in the profession. Conversely, repeated shortcuts can damage reputations and make citizens doubt whether legal institutions will protect liberty and uphold the Constitution.

India’s court system is commonly understood as having three main levels. The Supreme Court is the national apex court. High Courts operate mainly at the state or regional level. Lower courts, including district and subordinate courts, handle most cases first. This broad structure helps organise disputes and appeals across the country.

A case usually begins in a lower court, which examines evidence and applies law to the dispute. A High Court can hear appeals and supervise courts within its jurisdiction. The Supreme Court hears selected appeals and major constitutional questions. Its decisions provide authoritative guidance for courts throughout India. The exact route depends on the case and applicable law.

These levels create review within the justice system. A party may challenge a decision through an authorised appeal, while higher courts can correct legal errors or clarify principles. The structure also distributes work across many courts. Independent judges and ethically responsible lawyers remain essential at every level because rights and public confidence depend on fair proceedings.

A constitutional democracy protects rights through rules that apply to governments, institutions and individuals. Independent courts can decide cases without improper pressure. An ethical legal profession helps people present claims, challenge unfair action and understand their rights. Together, they turn constitutional principles into protections people can use.

The article shows the professional mechanism clearly. Surya Kant asked lawyers to defend what is just, listen to unheard voices and hear competing viewpoints before judging. He also urged them to respect the dignity of people with whom they disagree. Courts need such advocacy to examine facts, apply law and correct injustice fairly.

This independence and ethics also support public trust. If lawyers take shortcuts or courts lack independence, people may doubt whether liberty and constitutional values are secure. Surya Kant told graduates that every case, contract, advice and judgment adds to the architecture of justice. Their future conduct will therefore affect both individual rights and confidence in institutions.