At NLU Delhi Convocation, Justice BV Nagarathna Calls Lawyers Guardians of Constitutional Values
At the 12th Convocation of National Law University, Delhi, Justice BV Nagarathna delivered an inspiring address on the theme “Officers of the Court and Stewards of the Constitution.” She urged the Class of 2025 to uphold constitutional values, integrity, and justice throughout their careers.
She reminded the graduates that receiving a degree is not just a personal milestone but also a collective responsibility. “Your loyalty is now not only to your institution but also to constitutional values. Every lawyer is a lifelong steward of the Constitution,” she said.
Quoting Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s final speech in the Constituent Assembly, she stressed that the success of the Constitution depends on how it is practised. Lawyers, she said, must carry the Constitution into every courtroom, classroom, and boardroom, ensuring that it remains a bridge between citizens and justice.
Justice Nagarathna outlined the transformative principles of the Constitution — equality, liberty, and fraternity — along with five structural pillars of governance: the Preamble, Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles, Separation of Powers, and Federal Structure. She highlighted the duty of the bar and the judiciary to preserve rule of law and maintain checks and balances in democracy.
She urged students to let constitutional values guide them in moments of moral conflict, cautioning that law should not be seen as a fortress for the powerful but as a bridge accessible to all. “The law belongs to everyone, though not everyone can afford it. You must ensure access is not denied,” she remarked.
Calling integrity the foundation of a meaningful legal career, she advised graduates to measure success not just in financial terms but by the positive impact they create in society. She also emphasised the duty of lawyers to provide free legal aid under Article 39-A and described this as “constitutional intergenerational equity” — the responsibility of each generation to sustain and pass on constitutional values to the next.
She concluded by urging students to recognise human struggles behind case files, engage in legal aid and awareness, and act as “translators of the Constitution” in people’s lives. “Law is not just about rules, it is about creating conditions where human dignity can flourish. As members of a privileged profession, you must wield law as a bridge of inclusion and service to society,” she said.
