He was speaking at the 5th Convocation ceremony at the Hidayatullah National Law University (HNLU), Raipur.
In his address, CJI Ramana urged the newly enrolled law graduates to endeavor to explain constitutional provisions in simpler terms to the common citizens so as to enable them to assimilate its ethos.
“You have been trained to weigh the equities. In the world of rising inequities, we need your help in bridging the gaps. You must be active members of your communities and be the voice for the voiceless. You must be the beacon of social justice. I would also like to take this opportunity to request all of you to use the skills you have learnt in the University to further the goals of justice. The most vulnerable are often the victims of human rights violations, either by the State or by anti-social elements. As young advocates, you are best placed to strongly oppose the same through legal action,” he added.
CJI Ramana further asked the law graduates to take up as many pro-bono cases as possible in their early years of practice.
“Now that you are entering the profession, I urge you all to take up as many pro-bono cases as possible. In his autobiography, Justice Hidayatullah states that as a young barrister, getting clients was difficult and slow. For every case that he got paid, he was taking up three free cases. His practice was built slowly but steadily. Through his hard work, he established a credible reputation in the bar and the society. There cannot be any better example to emulate in your profession,” CJI said.
Source: Barandbench
