Law Day & Justice Y.V. Chandrachud Memorial Public Lecture 2014

Symbiosis Law School, Pune, a constituent of Symbiosis International University, celebrated its Law Day & Justice Y.V. Chandrachud Memorial Public Lecture 2014 on 25th of January 14 at Vishvabhavan Auditorium.

Celebration began with the traditional lighting of lamp by the chief guest Hon’ble Justice A.K. Sikri, Judge, Supreme Court of India along with other dignitaries present on the dais.   Padma Bhushan Dr.  S. B. Mujumdar, Founder and Chancellor, Symbiosis International University, recalled the history of “Justice Y. V. Chandrachud Memorial Public Lecture Series” in his open remarks. Remembering Adv Ranade, he mentioned that the Law Day oath given to the students on this auspicious occasion was crafted by late Adv Ranade along with Adv. Ram Jethmalani. He also mentioned that the first Memorial lecture in the year 2011 was delivered by Adv. Ram Jethmalani.  

Dr. Vidya Yeravdekar, Principal Director Symbiosis, congratulated Dr. Shashikala Gurpur, Director, Symbiosis Law School, Pune and Dean, Faculty of Law, SIU, for imparting quality education to the students and making every effort to match the global legal education standards thereby registering the law college amongst the top five law colleges in the country and first amongst the private players. She apprised the house that Symbiosis owns the credit of being the first law college in India to introduce one year LLM programme. In the coming academic session the university is introducing 3 year LLB programme, strengthening projects at Advance Legal Research Centre and a new Global Law College at Hyderabad, she said. She enthralled the house by announcing that the Law School at SB Road Pune would soon be shifted to the huge Vimanagar campus by July this year.

Dr. Shashikala Gurpur, Director, Symbiosis Law School, Pune and Dean, Faculty of Law, SIU, in her address, highlighted the milestones of law school in the last one year. She spoke about the national and the international achievements of the college and its contribution toward the community in the year 2012-13. Speaking on the international collaborations she mentioned that we are the only Indian law school to have privilege of getting into the Erasmus Mundus Consortium. Talking about the significance of law day she said that it offers us an opportunity to celebrate the power of democracy, idea of justice and examine where we stand in the legal education.  She said that the aim of education in Symbiosis is a mix of values, research and knowledge. This was followed by paying of floral tribute to late Adv. B.R Ranade, the Ist teacher, SLS, Pune, first editor Symbiosis Law Times and friend, philosopher & guide, Symbiosis Fraternity, by the dignitaries.

Adv. Ram Jethmalani, Sr. Advocate Supreme Court of India, Professor Emeritus, SIU, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha), then presented the “Ram Jethmalani Trophy” on Evidence Law to Ms. Anupama  Ramakant Satyasai for scoring highest marks (90%) in Law of Evidence’ which carried a medal and a cash prize of Rs. 50,000.  

The house saw release of two masterpieces – the booklet of Justice Y.V. Chandrachud Memorial Public Lecture 2013 delivered by Justice C.K. Thakker, former Judge, Supreme Court of India and a book on corruption, politics, beurocracy, government, black money, Jammu & Kashmir, Pakistan, fundamentalism and terrorism by  Adv. Ram Jethmalani titled, “Maverick: Unreformed, Unchanged and Un repented”.

Hon’ble Justice S.B. Sinha, former Judge, Supreme Court of India delivered the keynote address on “Power of Judicial Review – A Judicial Perspective”. He said while exercising the judicial review the courts must ensure that all kinds of rights of people are protected.  Quoting different cases starting from the year 1889 Manjerekar’s case to 2005 Sooraj’s case he said the topic can be studied under two heads, the legislative and administrative. He mentioned that the Supreme Court should examine the scope of Public Interest Litigation as the justice delivery system including writs under Articles 32 & 226 is at cross roads.

Dr. (Prof.) Upendra Baxi, Professor Emeritus Warwick School of Law, UK, delivered the Justice Y.V. Chandrachud Memorial Public Lecture 2014 on the topic, “Evolution of Judicial Review in India”. Beginning with the foundational & activist judicial review, he said that the law school must conduct research into the foundational aspect of judicial review which has not yet caught the sight of legal academicians. He said that the earlier Justices during 1950-1973, did not regard themselves as social entrepreneurs and constitutional activists. They carefully laid the foundations of judicial review, created a model of rule of law, adjudication and guided the colonial Bar into a constitutional profession.   Quoting Krishna Case, he said that the power of Judicial Review can be used only for the purpose for which it is has been conferred.  He said that Anna Hajare or Arvind Kejriwal were not the first one to raise this corruption issue. In fact, way back in the year 1986 it was Supreme Court in A R Antulay’s case that raised the issue of liberty of corruption and corruption of liberty. 

Hon’ble Justice A.K. Sikri, Hon’ble Judge, Supreme Court of India, the chief guest, addressing  the house on “Judicial Review in India: An Emerging Scenario”, said that the duty of the court is to uphold the rule of law. He mentioned that there is a need to look into the aspect as to whether judicial review can be extended to the private bodies like civil aviation, BCCI and electricity. He stated that all the judgments are applicable to every citizen of India, the judges being citizens of India are no exception to it. He added that judges are the upholders of constitutional values, especially the protection of fundamental rights of the weaker section and the marginalized, and the rule of law should be reflected in the judicial review also.

Adv. Ram Jethmalani, Sr. Advocate Supreme Court of India, Professor Emeritus, SIU, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha), left the audience spellbound with his excellent oratory.  He emphasized on the renewed importance of honesty and dedication to service in these troubled times where the legal fraternity has come under fire for various controversies. He called upon the students as lawyers of tomorrow to always be guided in their actions, not merely in their legal career but in life as well, by reason and logic. Following his thought-provoking concluding remarks, he administered the Law Day Oath to the assembled audience.

Drawing down the curtain, Dr. Bindu Ronald, Deputy Director, Symbiosis Law School, Pune proposed the Vote of Thanks.

Justice Dilip Patil, former Supreme Court Judge, Mr. Ramesh Sharma, former DGP, Madhya Pradesh  and Dr. Rajani Gupte,   Vice Chancellor, SIU also graced the occasion.