New Delhi: Reminding young lawyers that they are not merely case builders but nation builders, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant said advocates too often
reduce the legal profession to a narrow exercise: winning cases, billing hours, mastering procedure. “This certainly produces competent practitioners, but it does not necessarily produce nation builders," CJI said. Surya Kant said, addressing the 7th convocation ceremony of the Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law (RGNUL) in Patiala, Punjab, “Whenever I have the privilege of addressing such a young and dynamic audience, I must confess that I assume most of you will join the Bar. This is more of an earnest hope. And this also brings me to the central theme I want to share with you all today: that even as advocates, you are not merely case-builders. You are, in fact, nation-builders. When many of you chose to study law, you may have imagined yourselves arguing landmark cases, drafting intricate contracts, or perhaps one day addressing constitutional benches. These are worthy ambitions, and there is nothing wrong with them. But I would urge you to pause and ask a larger, more enduring question: what is the role of the lawyer in a nation like India, at this moment in its history?” asked the CJI. CJI Surya Kant said a case-builder focuses on the dispute of the day; a nation-builder concerns herself with the consequences of today’s dispute on tomorrow’s society. The distinction is fundamental: the former is transactional; the latter transformational. Our Constitution is not a monument cast in stone, it is an ingenious blueprint. The courts give it interpretation, institutions give it structure, but you must give it life. You must decide what India becomes next,” he said. The CJI said what distinguishes institutions like RGNUL is not merely where they are located, but the culture they deliberately cultivate. This campus has invested in space, in sustainability, and in student life. From its unique green belt that reminds us of stewardship, to a vibrant co-curricular ecosystem that encourages debate, creativity, and leadership beyond the classroom. Such environments do more than educate lawyers; they shape citizens who are thoughtful, grounded, and socially engaged. “That is why, standing here this morning, watching all of you take your place in the world, I am reminded of a simple truth: every generation receives the Republic unfinished. Our Constitution is not a monument cast in stone, it is an ingenious blueprint. The Courts give it interpretation, the institutions give it structure, but you, my dear young ones, must give it life. You must decide what India becomes next”, he said.
