Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant on Saturday, 17 October 2026, said that law is not a fixed body of rules but a dynamic, evolving discipline shaped by the minds and actions of those who practise it — calling it a 'living conversation' forged by diverse voices and perspectives. He was addressing the 34th Annual Convocation of the National Law School of India University (NLSIU) in Bengaluru.

Key Message to Graduates

Speaking to a new generation of legal professionals, CJI Kant urged the graduates to look beyond textbooks, statutes, and case law. He emphasised that legal education must cultivate intellectual independence, ethical responsibility, and the capacity to engage with viewpoints that diverge from one's own.

'Each time we listen to perspectives that diverge from ours, we are reminded that the law itself is a living conversation and that it is shared by voices that do not always harmonise but together create the symphony of justice,' he said.

On Intellectual Courage and Humility

The CJI argued that the legal profession demands not only mastery of statutes and precedents but also the courage to defend what is just and the humility to listen to voices that often remain unheard. Intellectual independence, he said, required fearlessness — the ability to hear before judging, distinguish a person from a position, and disagree without denying another person's dignity.

'The law, as you will soon discover in its living form, is not static. It breathes, and it evolves through the minds and actions of those who practise it,' he told the graduating batch.

Law School as a Crucible of Ideas

Describing the law school experience as a space where ideas collide and convictions are tested, Justice Kant noted that the purpose of legal education extended beyond learning constitutional and legal principles. Equally important, he said, was the encounter with people whose backgrounds, beliefs, and interpretations challenge one's own.

He cautioned the graduates against compromising their values when expediency tempted them or easy shortcuts appeared attractive, urging them to remain anchored to the principles they had imbibed at NLSIU.

A Note of Condolence and Gratitude

In a sombre moment during the ceremony, CJI Kant offered condolences to the family and friends of a deceased NLSIU graduate who, he said, should have been present to receive her degree alongside her classmates. He also acknowledged the contributions of parents, faculty members, and staff in shaping the graduates' academic and personal journeys.

A Call to Be 'Heralds of Hope'

Concluding his address, the CJI urged the graduates to become not merely practitioners of law but 'heralds of hope' — professionals whose contributions to justice and society would endure long after their time at law school. 'Law will challenge your patience, test your ethics, and call upon the deepest reserves of your courage,' he said, while noting that the profession also offered the profound satisfaction of righting wrongs, defending liberty, and serving society. The graduating class now carries that mandate into courtrooms, boardrooms, and policy halls across the country.