CJI advises law graduates to be alive to changing needs

Visakhapatnam: Chief Justice of India Justice H L Dattu has called upon law graduates to be alive to the changing needs of society and not to view legal field as a “commercialised profession.” Justice Dattu advised the students not to enter legal profession with a mindset to earn quick money.

Addressing at the first convocation of Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University here on Friday, he said the legal profession has always been viewed as an increasingly commercialised profession. “Entering this profession with a mindset to make fast money is the wrong. If you want money in a quick time then it would be better to choose some other profession or go for business,’’ the Chief Justice advised the students.

As future of this nation, the students should be able to understand public good and look beyond self- interest and keep in mind the interest of the system of administration of justice. Quoting Dr B R Ambdekar that justice was another name of liberty, equality and fraternity, Justice Dattu said lack of awareness of problems and lack of resources were two major barriers to the access to justice.

Stating that challenges in society were multidimensional, he suggested that the students wear additional robe of a social reformer instead of confining oneself to mere wearing robes of an advocate. ­On changing aspects of practice of law, the chief justice asked the students to restrain themselves from specialising a field, which was now in vogue for scores of professionals joining the fields creating a generation of super skilled lawyers

But specialisation would deprive this generation of a well- rounded knowledge base,’’ he said. The justice lauded Kailash Satyarthi, who brought immense pride to the nation, and said he was a simple teacher with an engineering degree who gave up relatively secure life of an academician and dedicated nearly two-and-a half -decades of his life for the millions of children trapped in exploitative labour.

The Chief Justice also praised Malala Youzsafzai who at the tender age of 17 became an international name synonymous with protection of child’s rights and their right to education. Vice-chancellor of the university Prof R G B Bhagavath Kumar, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Registrar P Sudhakar also spoke on the occasion. Chief Justice of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana High Court of Judicature Kalyan Jyothi Sengupta and local judicial officials were present on the occasion.