Former CJI Dipak Misra Addresses Bennett University Law Students

For the incoming class at Bennett University’s School of Law, orientation wasn't just about campus tours and syllabus overviews. On August 7, the new cohort received their first lesson in constitutional duty straight from Hon’ble former Chief Justice of India Mr. Dipak Misra. 
 

Speaking at the ‘UGC–Deeksharambh 2026’ student induction programme, the 45th CJI stepped away from standard ceremonial remarks to directly mentor the fresh batch. He warned them early on that a law degree shouldn't just be about memorizing statutes; it requires cultivating a true "sense of law."

He challenged the students to kick off their university journey with a difficult task: unlearning. To tackle complex societal problems, Hon’ble former Chief Justice of India Mr. Dipak Misra explained, young lawyers have to dismantle inherited assumptions and build fiercely independent perspectives. Knowledge, he reminded the room, isn't confined to textbooks—it is built by staying intellectually curious and learning from people, institutions, and inevitable failures.

Throughout the session, Hon’ble former Chief Justice of India Mr. Dipak Misra urged the cohort to view themselves as "servers of the cause of justice." Pointing directly to the Preamble of the Constitution, he told the students that defending justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity will demand immense courage and conviction in the years ahead.

Yet, the former Chief Justice kept his advice firmly grounded in the daily grind of the profession. While encouraging students to make their mark through legal aid and innovation, he stressed that big ideas fall flat without the basics. Factual accuracy, clear logical reasoning, and razor-sharp legal writing, he noted, are absolutely non-negotiable.

Before wrapping up his address, Hon’ble former Chief Justice of India Mr. Dipak Misra touched on a reality often brushed aside in high-pressure law schools: personal well-being. A sharp legal mind requires a healthy foundation, he told the students, adding that physical and mental health are what ultimately give a lawyer the patience, composure, and focus needed to survive the courtroom.

For Bennett University's newest students, the orientation session set a rigorous tone for the academic year, offering them a rare chance to start their legal education with practical wisdom from the highest echelons of the Indian judiciary.