Hyderabad: President Droupadi Murmu encouraged the younger generation of legal professionals to be agents of change. She asked them to uphold the values of justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity, which were key ideas from India’s freedom struggle.
Speaking at the 21st Convocation of NALSAR University of Law on Saturday, she emphasized the need to ensure justice for marginalized communities. She pointed out that justice is often hard to access for the poor and said this situation needs to change. She called on young legal professionals to lead this change.
President Murmu praised NALSAR for addressing important issues like disability rights, access to justice, prison and juvenile justice, and legal aid. She also appreciated the university for setting up an Animal Law Centre. This reminded her of her time as the Minister for Fisheries and Animal Resources Development in Odisha nearly two decades ago. She stressed the importance of protecting animals, birds, trees, and water bodies, which are essential for humanity’s well-being.
Murmu also spoke about the role of Artificial Intelligence in the legal field. She mentioned that jurists and judges are now using algorithms to help evaluate legal disputes. She advised future legal professionals to prepare for rapid technological changes and use technology as a tool for both professional growth and social justice.
Quoting Dr. B R Ambedkar, President Murmu highlighted the long-standing democratic traditions of ancient India. She urged law graduates to maintain high ethical standards, whether they choose to become advocates or join the corporate world. She reminded them to always act with integrity and courage, saying that “speaking truth to power makes you more powerful.”
President Murmu also acknowledged the achievement of female students, noting that more women than men had won medals at the convocation. She called on NALSAR, its alumni, and other stakeholders to create a nationwide network of women advocates and law students. This network would work together to prevent violence against women and help address cases of such atrocities.
The event was attended by several dignitaries, including State Governor Jishnu Dev Varma, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, Supreme Court Judge Justice PS Narasimha, Telangana High Court Chief Justice and NALSAR Chancellor Justice Alok Aradeh, and NALSAR Vice-Chancellor Srikrishna Devaraya Rao.
