lend voice to the voiceless: President urges law graduates

Calling upon the law students to lend their voice to the voiceless, represent the powerless and obtain justice for them, President Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday emphasised that lawyers have a duty to fight injustice and uphold the rule of law in society.The President’s speech was read out by Chancellor and Odisha High Court Chief Justice DH Waghela at the convocation of the National law University here as Mukherjee cut short his two-day Odisha visit midway on Friday and returned to New Delhi.

Hailing the Indian Constitution as the most inspiring and noble, the President called upon the law students to study the Constitution and understand Indian political systems and processes properly. “The Constitution of India must be at the back of your mind; its spirit at the bottom of your heart,” the President said.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Justices Dipak Misra, V Gopala Gowda and Amitava Roy of Supreme Court were part of the convocation procession along with Chancellor Justice Waghela, Vice-Chancellor Dr Srikrishna Deva Rao and Registrar Dr Dolly Jabbal that was held at the Odisha Judicial Academy.

The dignitaries released a university journal Access to Justice. While a single scholar Rangin Ballav Tripathy was awarded with PhD, 42 students got llM degrees and 109 got llB degrees.

Highlighting the achievements of the university, VC Dr Rao said apart from fulfilling its mandate, the university is working towards access to justice for all, as a centre for child rights and setting up community college to develop humane lawyers with integrity.