Never stop questioning, Shivakumar tells young lawyers

Bengaluru: Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Saturday asked graduating students of National Law School of India University (NLSIU) to protect democracy, constitutional values and not to stop questioning. Addressing the 34th annual convocation of NLSIU, where the Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Supreme Court judges, Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court Vibhu Bakhru and other judges were present, Shivakumar said a strong democracy always allows its people to question.

“Never stop questioning, never compromise your values and never forget the people,” Shivakumar told young graduates. He urged them to defend democratic institutions, uphold constitutional values and make justice accessible to every citizen.

Emphasising that a strong democracy must allow citizens to question the government, Shivakumar said young lawyers and policymakers had a special responsibility to safeguard the Constitution, “particularly at a time when democratic institutions across the world were facing challenges”. “A strong democracy is not one where everyone agrees with the government. A strong democracy is one where every citizen has the freedom to question the government,” he said.

The chief minister called on graduates to question, debate and challenge ideas while also taking responsibility for finding solutions. He said constitutional principles must guide governance, policymaking and public life rather than remain confined to textbooks. “India does not simply need more lawyers. We need lawyers with integrity, compassion and courage,” he said, urging young lawyers to understand the struggles of ordinary people and stand up for what is right, even when it is difficult. Shivakumar also announced that the Karnataka government will establish a dedicated institute to train law graduates for judicial service examinations and provide continuing education for young lawyers. He further announced government support for a Start-up Law Clinic at NLSIU, where students, faculty members and lawyers will provide pro bono legal advice to young entrepreneurs. Shivakumar congratulated the graduating students and their parents and recalled that he had once aspired to become a lawyer.

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The Hans India