Overview

• At NLSIU Bengaluru on September 7, Justice Surya Kant urged graduates to act as “social engineers for justice” and said standing by one’s conscience defines career paths.
• He outlined three career junctures—pressure to compromise ethics, choosing authentic measures of success, and responsibility to lift others—and advised lawyers to set clear non‑negotiables.
• At NLU Delhi a day earlier, Justice B. V. Nagarathna said democracy’s essence lies in the rule of law and that courts have a duty to enforce it “without fear or favour.”
• She pressed the profession to turn law from a “fortress” for the powerful into a “bridge” for citizens, calling lawyers lifelong stewards of the Constitution and advocates for access to justice, including free legal aid under Article 39‑A.
• The messages align with a broader judicial focus on access and integrity and come as Surya Kant is expected to become Chief Justice in November, with Nagarathna reported to be in line for the post in 2027.