CJI Gavai emphasized that access to law and justice must not be a privilege for the few but a lived reality for every citizen, highlighting the importance of inclusivity and technology-driven legal education.
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NEW DELHI: At the inauguration of the first Prof. (Dr) N R Madhava Menon Memorial Lecture, held at the Dr Ambedkar International Centre, Chief Justice of India B R Gavai called for a radical reimagining of India’s legal education system. The event, attended by judges, lawyers, academics, and students, focused on the theme “Legal and Justice Education @2047: An Agenda for 100 Years of Independence.”
CJI Gavai stressed that technology must play a central role in reshaping legal education and making it more inclusive. By expanding access through digital platforms and online instruction, he said, law can reach beyond urban centres into the lives of first-generation learners and students from marginalized communities.
“Only by doing so can we ensure that access to law and justice becomes not a privilege for the few, but a lived reality for every citizen of this Republic,”
he remarked.
The CJI underscored that legal education is not just about training professionals for the bar and bench. Instead, it must cultivate citizens deeply committed to the constitutional ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity. He outlined four pillars for the future:
- Technology Integration – Harnessing digital tools for legal learning.
- Regional Languages – Promoting multilingual legal instruction for inclusivity.
- Strengthened Legal Aid – Ensuring law graduates serve communities in need.
- Support for First-Generation Learners – Building pathways for those without legal backgrounds.
Delivering the keynote, Justice Surya Kant, set to become the next Chief Justice of India, urged that the study of law must not be carried out in ivory towers. Instead, it should remain rooted in the lived experiences of the people. He stressed:
“Let algorithms schedule hearings, but let compassion govern proceedings. Let software find precedents, but let conscience find proportion.”
Justice Kant emphasized that lawyers of 2047 must be fluent not only in the language of the law but also in the language of the people. He highlighted the importance of digital-first pedagogy, interdisciplinary learning, and compulsory legal aid clinics in law schools.
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Both CJI Gavai and Justice Kant pointed out systemic challenges faced by National Law Universities, including a shortage of dedicated faculty and the risk of homogenised, one-size-fits-all models. Instead, they advocated for celebrating India’s diverse languages, cultures, and traditions in the legal education system.
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