Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant hoists the national flag during the 80th Independence Day celebrations at the Supreme Court in New Delhi.
| Photo Credit: PTI
The Chief Justice of India, Surya Kant, in his Independence Day address at the Supreme Court on Saturday (August 15, 2026), said the younger generation’s “remarkable resilience”, awareness of social realities, and their use of technology to communicate and access knowledge give the nation every reason to be confident in them.
“This generation brings with it qualities that give us every reason to be confident. They have grown up in a world where technology has transformed the way we communicate and access knowledge, and they are bringing that adaptability into the courtroom. At the same time, they bring a greater awareness of the social realities around them,” Chief Justice Kant said, referring to young law graduates and lawyers.
Young lawyers show deep sensitivity to questions of equality, inclusion and access to justice, and with an understanding that the law must remain connected to the lives and aspirations of the people it serves, the Chief Justice said.
“To our young law graduates and young lawyers, I want to say this — the responsibility that this Bar has carried since the days of the freedom struggle will, before long, rest on your shoulders. The institutions of justice that generations before you have built and strengthened are now yours to protect and to carry forward. Please know that the Bar and the Bench remain committed to your growth — by extending mentorship, by creating meaningful opportunity, and by placing our confidence in you. The miles that remain are yours to walk, and we walk with you,” Chief Justice Kant said.
The CJI’s focus in his Independence Day address on the younger generation of law graduates and lawyers came a day after the Bar Council of India’s (BCI) half-baked move to stop the professional enrolment of the entire 2026 batch of NALSAR (National Academy of Legal Studies and Research) University of Law graduates.
The BCI’s actions had invited public ire, followed by condemnation from the Supreme Court itself.
The Chief Justice, in an oral mention of a petition against the BCI on Friday (August 14, 2026), had upheld the students’ right to protest. The CJI had said in open court that the students’ objection to his coming to their convocation ceremony as chief guest was part of a “dialogue” between them and him, and the BCI had no business barging in.
The Chief Justice had protected NALSAR students and faculty from any punitive action by the BCI. The top judge had even urged the graduates to enrol with the Supreme Court Bar and take up legal aid work.
The CJI commended the younger generation for their “remarkable resilience”. The challenges in law and life were far greater today than were faced by earlier generations, he said.
“The challenges facing young lawyers today are, in some ways, greater than what many of us faced. The profession is more competitive today, the learning curve has become steeper, and the pressures of building a practice weigh heavily in these early years. And yet, I have also seen in our young colleagues a remarkable resilience, a sharp intellect, and a genuine commitment to justice,” Chief Justice Kant said.
Published – August 15, 2026 03:37 pm IST
