Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday, 17 October 2026, declared that the state had decisively moved away from what he called the 'rule of the mafia' to an established system of rule of law, asserting that no individual or position could be placed above the Constitution of India. His remarks came during the fifth convocation ceremony of Dr Ram Manohar Lohia National Law University in Lucknow.

Before 2017: A State Held Back

Addressing graduating law students, Adityanath argued that prior to 2017 — the year the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power in the state — uncertainty over law and order had deterred investment and stalled development. He said mafia elements had posed systemic obstacles to progress, and that the restoration of the rule of law had since transformed Uttar Pradesh's image on the national stage.

The Chief Minister urged young advocates that remaining silent in the face of injustice was not an option, framing the legal profession as a moral vocation and not merely a career. He said history would ultimately deliver its verdict, but lawyers bore the responsibility of presenting the arguments.

Emergency Reference and Justice H.R. Khanna's Dissent

In a pointed historical reference, Adityanath cited 25 June 1975 — the date of the imposition of the Emergency — alongside 15 August 1947 and 26 January 1950, as defining moments in India's democratic history. He said the Emergency had starkly illuminated the fundamental distinction between the rule of law and the rule of an individual.

Invoking the dissenting opinion of Justice H.R. Khanna during that period, the Chief Minister said decisions taken in defence of fundamental principles secured a lasting place in history. He urged young legal professionals to uphold constitutional values and remain committed to truth, righteousness and continuous learning.

Viksit Bharat 2047 and UP's ₹1 Trillion Economy Goal

Adityanath linked the aspirations of young lawyers to the national vision of a developed India by 2047, saying the goal of Viksit Bharat must be pursued with facts, evidence and integrity. He noted that Uttar Pradesh had drawn up a roadmap to become a one-trillion-dollar economy by 2029-30 — an ambition that, he argued, required a robust legal and institutional framework to sustain.

AI, Cybercrime and the Future of Law

On the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence, the Chief Minister cautioned that while technology could simplify tasks, final decisions must remain guided by human judgment. He warned that a carelessly drafted legal document could cost an innocent person their freedom, and flagged the rise of deepfakes and cybercrime as fresh challenges to the reliability of evidence in courts.

He noted that cyber police stations had been established across all 75 districts of Uttar Pradesh, with cyber help desks now operational in 1,583 police stations. Under the state's AI Pragya initiative, one million youths are being trained in artificial intelligence, he added.

Other Dignitaries at the Convocation

Supreme Court Justice Vikram Nath, also present at the ceremony, told graduates that obtaining a degree marked the beginning of a journey rather than its culmination. He said the true test of education began beyond university walls and called on graduates to measure success by the positive impact they made on others' lives.

Allahabad High Court Chief Justice Arun Bhansali highlighted the university's contributions to legal education and the judiciary, expressing confidence that its graduates would uphold its traditions and strengthen the rule of law. The ceremony included a lighting of a ceremonial lamp, floral tributes to Goddess Saraswati, and a Saraswati Vandana, after which Adityanath presented medals to meritorious students across several programmes.

As Uttar Pradesh positions itself for its trillion-dollar economy target, the Chief Minister's call to arms for young lawyers signals that the administration views a credible legal system as central to — not separate from — the state's economic ambitions.