By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net,
Bhopal: Addressing the fourth convocation of National Law Institute University, (NLIU), Union Minister for Human Resources Development, Communications & IT Mr. Kapil Sibal has said that law-abiding government is the best government. Only a law-abiding government can make all the facilities available to citizens in time.
In his convocation address Mr. Kapil Sibal lashed out at the media stating that it is obsessed with scams. “The people are just fed up of seeing the news of scams and corruption, a malaise that is projected to pervade our society. They seem to believe in trial by media and live by the dictum of ‘guilty till proven innocent”, he said.
Union Minister for Human Resource Development Mr. Kapil Sibal addressing the fourth convocation of National Law Institute University, (NLIU), in Bhopal.
At the convocation, degrees were presented to students by acting Chief Justice of Madhya Pradesh High Court and NLIU’s vice-chancellor Justice Sushil Harkauli. In all 66 students of B.A. LL.B. and 10 students of the LL.M. program who graduated in April 2011 received degrees at the convocation.
Mr. Kapil Sibal said that students have fulfilled one of their dreams by getting degree of law today. But the next dream of bright future has begun. Hard work is required to fulfill every dream of life like this. He expressed happiness over girls achieving remarkable success side by side with boys. Mr. Sibal hoped that all the students of law with help people get justice. He said that he has always remained optimistic. There is also scope for improvement.
The Human Resources Minister informed that every possible effort is being undertaken to universalise primary education including Right to Education. Meditation classes will be organised in higher education institutions. He said that jurisdictions and rights of judiciary, legislature and executive are clearly enshrined in the Constitution. What is needed is that all the institutions work in tandem for people’s welfare.
Mr. Sibal stressed on the fact that there is a kind of anomaly with the status quo, since on one hand India is being heralded as a global power and on the other hand there is a sense of disquiet with respect to governance in the nation. A need for transparency has been acknowledged fiercely by the masses. In such a situation, he discussed the importance of concepts like Rule of Law and Doctrine of Separation of Power. The former is endorsed only if the citizens respect the government and the latter stresses how each institution of the state should be in harmonious existence with each other.
He recognized the fact that politicians are being seen in dark light as “power hungry” and “self seeking” individuals with the disclosure of scams and corruption cases in the nation. He stressed how the right to allege and right to insinuate have almost become a part of Article 21 Right to Life and Liberty, emphasizing how the media should exercise its freedom of speech and expression in a responsible manner. He also pointed out that law students have a huge responsibility to fulfill in the future.
NLIU’s vice-chancellor Justice Sushil Harkauli presenting degree to a student at the NLIU convocation in Bhopal.
Mr. Sibal highlighted how globalisation has brought the legal profession into the eye of fierce competition and to see lawyers as rational and social engineers, is extremely important. He concluded his address by stating – “Have no fear; you are now ready to show your mettle”.
Former Chief Justice of India Justice J.S. Verma was bestowed with degree of Doctor of Law by Justice Harkauli on the occasion.
Justice Harkauli also gave away degrees to LLM and LLB pass-outs. Those who received LLM degrees included Miss Priyamvada Shukla, Miss Prerna Tiwari, Miss Manisha Jaiswal, Miss Samya Rai Chowdhry, Mr. Harshit Saxena, Mr. Vishnu S., Miss Atin Kumar Das, Miss Nandini Tirubhawan Nath Dubey, Mr. Jelis Suman and Kavya Saleem while 66 students including Miss Smriti Pradhan, Miss Manju Bharti, Miss Swapnil Gupta, Mr. Shubham Khare, Mr. Shubhendu Joshi were given away LLB degrees.
Justice Harkauli and Mr. Sibal conferred Justice Shateendra Dwivedi Gold Medal and Mr. Nani A. Palkhikwala Memorial Gold Medal on Miss Priyamvada Shukla, Mrs. Pratibha Dubey Memorial Gold Medal to Miss Deeksha Manchanda and silver medal for the year 2007 and 2008 also to Miss Deeksha Manchanda, silver medal for the year 2009-10 and gold medal for the year 2011 to Mr. Vikas Kumar Jha in the form of Pt. Ramlalji Sharma Medal. Guests also released Indian Law Review Journal on the occasion.
Director of NLIU Prof. S. S. Singh threw light on the university’s educational activities and also presented mementoes to the guests. The Director also praised Mr. Kapil Sibal, affirming that due to overruling of the UGC Committee, all Law Universities and Colleges have been brought on an equal footing.
Madhya Pradesh Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr. Narottam Mishra, the state’s Higher Education Minister Mr. Laxmikant Sharma and Chief Secretary Mr. Avani Vaish were also present at the convocation.([email protected])