Chief Justice of India inaugurates National Law University, Orissa

orissadiary.com, Oct 31, 2009

Report by Dipti Ranjan Kanungo, Bhubaneswar: The National Law University, Orissa (NLUO) promises to be an exciting new development in the field of legal education. Envisaged as a “third generation” law school, it seeks to becoming a leading player on the global stage as well. More significantly, it seeks to break beyond the confines of conventional legal education where black-letter law predominates. In other words, it focusses on “justice studies” rather than law as it is usually understood; its goal is to address law in its larger context, and ensure that its students and research output are finely attuned to ethical and social relevancies. NLUO was inaugurated by the Chief Justice of India and Visitor, NLUO   Justice K. G. Balakrishnan, in the presence of the Chief Minister of Orissa Naveen Patnaik  and  Other dignitaries  including  Justice. I. M. Quddusi, Chancellor, NLUO and Acting Chief Justice, Orissa High Court; Sh. Devi Prasad Mishra, Minister of Higher Education, Government of Orissa; Sh. Bikram Keshari Arukha, Minister of Law, Government of Orissa; and Prof. N. L. Mitra, former Vice-Chancellor, NLSIU Bangalore and Founder Vice-Chancellor, NLU Jodhpur.
In his address Justice K. G. Balakrishnan, the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India, emphasised the importance of legal education in today’s world. Noting that throughout history, the legal profession has played decisive roles in shaping the course of our political and social development, he regretted that the present decline in professional and ethical standards had cast a shadow on the reputation of the bar and the bench alike. He expressed the hope that new law schools such as NLUO would succeed in arresting this trend.
Sh. Naveen Patnaik, the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Orissa, touched upon the remarkable economic progress Orissa had made in the last twelve years, and spoke of the state as an emergent knowledge-hub as well. He pointed out that though other states had spent lavishly on national law universities in their states, an institution of learning was not merely about bricks and mortar. He expressed his firm belief that NLUO will achieve its vision of being a ‘third- generation law school’. He extended his fullest support to the institution, and expressed his firm commitment to the University’s cause, particularly in matters of funding and infrastructural development; he assured the audience that a lack of money will never impede NLUO’s progress.
Sh. I. M. Quddusi, the Hon’ble Acting Chief Justice of the Orissa High Court and Chancellor, NLUO, recollected his personal association with the University right from its inception. He spoke on the need for such institutions to emerge and revitalise the legal profession, particularly in a state like Orissa which is witnessing a renaissance in economic development.
Sh. Devi Prasad Mishra, the Hon’ble Minister of Higher Education, Government of Orissa, highlighted the impressive achievements Orissa had made in the field of pedagogy. He pointed to the several prestigious educational institutions that have chosen to set up base in the state, and expressed confidence that Orissa will soon emerge as a global leader in providing education-related services. He pointed to NLUO as a sterling example of this trend, and conveyed his warm wishes to the University.
Sh. Bikram Keshari Arukha, the Hon’ble Minister of Law, Government of Orissa, stressed upon the importance of the law and the legal profession to society. He said that while today the law has become a financially lucrative profession, thanks to high salaries paid by corporate houses and top-flight law firms,
young law professionals such as the students of NLUO should not lose sight of the social responsibilities that they must bear.
Prof. N. L. Mitra, former Vice-Chancellor, NLSIU Bangalore and Founder Chancellor, NLU Jodhpur, began by recalling his long association with the city of Cuttack. Turning to more serious issues, he emphasised that in the highly competititve world of legal education, no institution could survive without paying due emphasis to fundamental research. Moreover, in today’s globalised world, the interests of not only the state but also the nation lies in securing a highly qualified cadre of experts in fields such as corporate law, intellectual property and information technology law.