HPNLU Convocation: Justice Sundresh urges social responsibility; Sukhu flags Judicial decisions

HPNLU Convocation: Justice Sundresh urges social responsibility; Sukhu flags Judicial decisions

Shimla, Oct 11,

Himachal Pradesh National Law University (HPNLU), Shimla, held its third convocation on Sunday, with Supreme Court Justice M.M. Sundresh urging law graduates to become socially conscious professionals, while Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced two new courts to deal with cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act in Kangra and Mandi.

The convocation, held at Gyan Path Sabhagar at Himachal Pradesh University, Summer Hills, witnessed the conferment of degrees upon undergraduate and postgraduate students and Ph.D. scholars, the award of 16 gold medals and honorary Doctor of Laws degrees to three distinguished judicial figures.

Justice Sundresh, who presided over the ceremony and delivered the convocation address, told the graduating students that their responsibility extended beyond interpreting legal provisions.

“As a student of law, you are different from others. You are a social engineer, social doctor and social architect,” he said, emphasising that the delivery of justice required an understanding of society, social realities and the circumstances in which legal principles operated.

Describing Himachal Pradesh as a “paradise on earth”, Justice Sundresh encouraged the graduates to prepare for emerging challenges, particularly the growing influence of artificial intelligence on the legal profession. He urged them to embrace technological advancements while maintaining a commitment to continuous learning and social responsibility.

Two new courts announced

Addressing the gathering, Sukhu said the state government was committed to strengthening the judicial system to ensure timely justice for ordinary citizens. He announced that two new courts would be established in Kangra and Mandi to deal with NDPS cases, amid concerns over drug abuse in the state.

The Chief Minister said the significance of law lay in ensuring that even the weakest sections of society could hope for justice, that the voices of the needy were heard and that citizens felt secure about the protection of their rights.

He also assured assistance to strengthen the infrastructure of HPNLU and Himachal Pradesh University, expressing confidence that the law university would emerge as a centre of excellence in education and research.

Sukhu raises questions over judicial decisions

Alongside his emphasis on justice and the rule of law, the Chief Minister raised concerns about certain judicial decisions concerning government employment and their financial implications for the state.

Referring to service-related cases, Sukhu said some court directions had resulted in financial benefits being granted beyond the provisions of applicable recruitment rules, placing an additional burden on the state exchequer.

He cited the government’s 2003 decision that contractual employees would not be entitled to seniority and increments, and said a court had subsequently directed the grant of financial benefits despite, according to him, the absence of such provisions in the applicable recruitment rules.

“No elected government intends to deprive its government employees of their financial benefits, but it has to look at the state exchequer as well,” he said.

The remarks brought the question of judicial interpretation of service rules and the financial obligations of the government into an address otherwise focused on legal education, justice and institutional development.

Sukhu maintained that justice in a democracy should not be confined to judicial orders but should also be guided by fairness, wisdom and an understanding of circumstances. He described the judiciary as an important pillar of democracy, while noting that all three organs of the Constitution were intended to serve citizens and uphold justice.

The Chief Minister also referred to the challenges of developing sports infrastructure in the hill state, advocating shared use of school and community playgrounds. He said the government had paid Rs 5 lakh towards organising Independence Day celebrations after the High Court permitted the use of a government school playground subject to that condition.

Three judicial luminaries receive honorary degrees

HPNLU conferred honorary Doctor of Laws (Honoris Causa) degrees upon former Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, Tripura High Court Chief Justice M.S. Ramachandra Rao and former Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court Tarlok Singh Chauhan.

Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia, Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court and Chancellor of HPNLU, conferred degrees upon the graduating students. Former Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna attended as the Guest of Honour, while Justice Sundresh was present as the university’s Visitor.

A total of 16 gold medals were awarded for academic excellence across undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. Meritorious students were also recognised through the Founder Chancellor’s Fellowship Prize.

Vice-Chancellor Prof. Preeti Saxena presented the university’s progress report, outlining its academic development. The ceremony marked the transition of the graduating students into the legal profession, public service, research and other fields.

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