Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant inaugurated the 2nd Prof. (Dr.) N. R. Madhava Menon Memorial Lecture at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi, on 5 October 2026, themed ‘Judging With Compassion: Human Understanding in the Practice of Law.’
The lecture's theme — ‘Judging With Compassion: Human Understanding in the Practice of Law’ — underscores the role of empathy and human understanding in judicial decision making, a focus highlighted by Chief Justice Surya Kant at the 5 October 2026 event.
The lecture series honours Prof. (Dr.) N. R. Madhava Menon, widely regarded as a pioneer of modern legal education in India and the founding director of the National Law School of India University, Bengaluru, whose legacy continues to shape the country's legal pedagogy.
The Dr. Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi hosted the 2nd Madhava Menon Memorial Lecture on 5 October 2026, bringing together members of the judiciary, legal academia and policymakers to deliberate on compassion as a guiding principle in law.
According to reports, Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant used the Madhava Menon Memorial Lecture platform to reinforce that human understanding must complement legal rigour in Indian courts, positioning compassion as integral to the practice and delivery of justice.