Pathways To Legal Excellence: A Special Lecture By Justice Oka At NLUJAA

A special guest lecture was conducted by the National Law University and Judical Academy, Assam (NLUJAA), presided over by Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, Judge of the Supreme Court. The keynote speaker, Justice Abhay S. Oka, Judge of the Supreme Court, was joined by a panel that included Justice Mir Alfaz Ali, Director of the Judicial Academy, Assam, and the Vice-Chancellor of NLUJAA, Dr. KVS Sarma.Justice Bhuyan's address underscored the significance of the preamble in the Indian Constitution, urging the audience to internalize its ideals and embrace a culture of constitutional values. He called for continued efforts to enhance National Law Universities, emphasizing their role as a pillar for the legal profession. Quoting Rabindranath Tagore's 'Where the Mind is Without Fear,' Justice Bhuyan urged the audience to transcend "narrow domestic walls."Justice Oka began his speech with a reflection on his personal journey in law, starting from his time at Government Law College, Mumbai. He highlighted the evolution of legal education over time and stressed the importance of the fundamental duties outlined in Article 51A of the Indian Constitution, particularly the duty to respect the Constitution and its institutions. He emphasized the need for citizens to give back to the nation.Justice Oka spoke to the students about the various avenues available in the legal profession and urged them to take up litigation, emphasizing that practicing law on the original side is crucial for building expertise and contributing meaningfully to the legal system. He also emphasized that trial court practice is equally important and not inferior to practice before the constitutional courts.He shared his insights into the value of traditional litigation. While acknowledging the appeal of law firms, he noted that litigation has been central to the legal profession since its inception. He recounted a personal anecdote from his early days in practice, illustrating the art of advocacy and the importance of convincing judges rather than antagonizing them.Justice Oka also discussed the vision of the framers of the Indian Constitution, who envisioned a justice system accessible to all citizens, exemplified by the fairness of traditional courts. He pointed to the impartiality of India's criminal justice system, citing examples such as the right to a fair trial granted to even Pakistani militant Ajmal Kasab. Justice Oka reflected on careers in academia and legal research and stressed the importance of public prosecutors. He also encouraged students to pursue legal research, noting that in India, this field is often limited to writing papers for dissertations. He stressed the need for more in-depth and impactful research that can contribute to legal reforms and policy-making.Furthermore, Justice Oka urged students to consider judiciary as a career, highlighting that it is not only a lucrative option with good salary and perks but also offers an excellent work-life balance. He described the life of a judge as one filled with immense satisfaction, as it provides the opportunity to deliver justice without external pressures or influence.Sharing another personal anecdote, he talked about how in 2016, he was a part of a committee which went to a few engineering colleges of Bombay to assess how much top companies pay students. To the surprise of the panel, they found that a civil judge is paid more in comparison. He stressed that young aspiring law graduates should strive to be a part of the judiciary. Justice Oka concluded his lecture with a heartfelt call to action, urging students to “do something for the sake of the legal system, the common man, and the country.”The lecture can be watched here.

Pathways To Legal Excellence: A Special Lecture By Justice Oka At NLUJAA

Tanusha Bang

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