Chief Justice of India Justice H.L. Dattu has called upon law graduates to be alive to the changing needs of society and adapt accordingly.

Delivering the Convocation Address at the First Convocation of the Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University (DSNLU) in Visakhapatnam on Friday, Justice Dattu said that though the judiciary was the machinery to provide justice, the lawyers were the oil that helps in its smooth administration. Lawyer is not one who merely wears black robes but should have to wear an additional robe of a ‘social reformer’, he said.

Referring to the legal field being increasingly viewed as a ‘commercialised profession’ and a lucrative option, Justice Dattu said: “Honour sinks, where commerce prevails. It is wrong to enter the profession with a mindset to only make money.”

Recalling his childhood, he said: “If I could become the CJI from being a student of a village school in Chikmagalur district, it was because I followed the advice of our Headmaster Ranganadha Rao and made three H’s – Honesty, Humility and Honesty – guiding principles in life.”

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, who was guest of honour, promised to allocate required land to DSNLU for construction of its own buildings and said that Rs.25 crore would be sanctioned immediately to enable the university to take up construction work.

Supreme Court Judge Justice N.V. Ramana and Chief Justice in the High Court of Judicature for Telangana and AP Justice Kalyan Jyoti Sengupta participated as guests of honour.

Vice-Chancellor RGB Bhagavath Kumar in his report detailed about the activities of the university.

The 43 students of 2009-2014 were awarded their degrees. Gold medals and prizes were presented to outstanding students. Registrar P. Sudhakar proposed a vote of thanks

Source: TH