NLU Degrees Not Shortcut To Supreme Court Practice, Young Lawyers Should First Practice In District Courts: CJI Surya Kant

The Bar Council of Delhi (BCD) on Monday felicitated Chief Justice of India, Justice Surya Kant, to honor his appointment as the country's top most judge.

The felicitation function was organised in the lawns of the Delhi High Court. All the bar associations of Delhi district courts also felicitated CJI Kant.

Emphasising on importance of district judiciary, CJI Kant, in his address, said that young lawyers and those in line must begin their practice in the district judiciary, before shifting to the high courts or even the Supreme Court.

Justice Kant said that there is a misconception amongst young lawyers that they must practice in the High Court or Supreme Court as they possess a law degree from an NLU or equally important law university.

Stating that district courts are breeding centres of cultivating professional culture which give strength to roots of legal profession, CJI Kant said:

“To the young lawyers and those in queue, we should encourage them the importance of practicing in the district courts for a while, before shifting to Supreme Court or the High Courts.”

Remembering his early years in the legal profession, CJI Kant said that he was fortunate to have joined office of a leading senior civil lawyer, under whose guidance he learnt the art of drafting petitions, plaints, affidavits etc, including preparing for cross examination and examination of chief of witnesses.

He said that the success he gained in his life is because of his experience in the district role. CJI Kant said that after one year of his juniorship, he decided to proceed for independent practice but was asked by many senior lawyers to draft their petitions because of the skills he developed in the district courts.

CJI Kant said that true justice resides only at the grassroot level courts, as first encounter of a client is when they go for enforcement of their right in the district courts.

He said that district courts play equally, rather more important role as compared to the appellate forums as they are the place where law becomes real and immediate, and requires shape of a humane approach.

“If a litigant is satisfactorily dealt with in this primary health centre, I am sure he will mot be required to be shifted to higher hospitals. Definitely he is not required to go to a trauma centre,” he said.

Further, CJI Kant also emphasised that with the advancement of technology, the art of cross examination of witnesses is disappearing in the district courts. He appealed to the senior lawyers to pass on their skills to the junior lawyers.

In his address, Chief Justice Upadhyaya said that CJI Kant, being the first generation lawyer, had no generational backing but had the right conviction to create his own launchpad.

He said that Justice Kant not only excelled in his career but also ended up breakibg the glass ceiling by becoming the youngest advocate general for the State of Haryana.

CJ Upadhyaya described Justice Kant's journey in one word- persistence. Persistence always beats privileges, he said.

The function was attended by judges of the Supreme Court as well as the Delhi High Court.

Senior Advocate Manan Kumar Mishra, Chairman of Bar Council of India; ASG Chetan Sharma, Chairman of Bar Council of Delhi's Special Committee; Senior Advocates Maninder Singh, Vikas Singh and N Hariharan were also present.