Story perspectives

Chief Justice Surya Kant Urges Graduates to Defend Liberty

By Drooid · Oct 17, 2026, 4:08 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Chief Justice Surya Kant delivered the keynote at NLSIU’s 34th convocation on October 17, 2026.
The ceremony, postponed from September 12 after student and alumni protests, proceeded peacefully without incidents.
Kant urged graduates to uphold justice, defend liberty, respect diverse viewpoints, and maintain intellectual independence.
He paid tribute to late graduate Urvashi Krishnatra, after his earlier remarks sparked the Cockroach Janata Party movement.

History

Historical Context

In 1973, the Supreme Court of India issued the Kesavananda Bharati judgment, establishing the basic-structure doctrine that limited parliamentary power over the Constitution. Justice P.N. Bhagwati led the nine-judge majority, while the bench comprised 24 judges overall, a record size for Indian jurisprudence. Similarly, Chief Justice Surya Kant’s October 17, 2026 convocation address at NLSIU echoed calls for judicial independence amid student protests that delayed the ceremony. The recurrence underscores how historic safeguards continue to shape campus activism and reinforce the judiciary’s role as a bulwark against political coercion.

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Story summary

Chief Justice Surya Kant delivered the keynote at NLSIU’s 34th convocation on October 17, 2026.
The ceremony, postponed from September 12 after student and alumni protests, proceeded peacefully without incidents.
Kant urged graduates to uphold justice, defend liberty, respect diverse viewpoints, and maintain intellectual independence.
He paid tribute to late graduate Urvashi Krishnatra, after his earlier remarks sparked the Cockroach Janata Party movement.

1 / 2