CJI-Designate Surya Kant Urges Lawyers to Uphold Empathy, Calls Bar and Bench ‘Equally Vital’ to Justice

Addressing the 125th Foundation Day celebrations of the Oudh Bar Association (OBA) at the Allahabad High Court’s Lucknow Bench, Justice Kant said, “For the weak and poor, the Bar is the first stop for access to justice. When anyone comes to court seeking justice, they first turn to a lawyer. Therefore, the Bar must have the power to understand the pain of the poor. Both the Bar and the Bench are equally important in the administration of justice.”

He encouraged lawyers to introspect and adapt to the evolving demands of a rapidly changing world, noting the rise of artificial intelligence and economic progress in India. “The era of AI has arrived, the country is making economic progress... in such a situation, commercial cases will increase. We have to be prepared for this,” he said, describing India’s judiciary as “one of the best in the world.”

Recollecting his own experiences as a lawyer, Justice Kant said he often argued cases at the Lucknow High Court and received valuable guidance from senior members of the Bar. Citing poetry, he likened the relationship between the Bar and the Bench to an unbreakable bond.

Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court, Arun Bhansali, also addressed the gathering. He remarked that the lawyer’s attire; the white shirt, black coat, and gown, is not merely a uniform but a symbol of belief. “It is important that lawyers explain legal processes to litigants in simple terms,” he said.

Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya, highlighted the Awadh Bar’s illustrious legacy, noting that it has produced two chief ministers of Uttar Pradesh; Shripat Mishra and C.P. Gupta, and that one of its members went on to become Pakistan’s first Attorney General after Partition, whose son later became the Chief Justice of Pakistan.

Justice Rajan Roy of the Lucknow Bench urged the Bar to remain sensitive to the concerns of the weaker sections of society, stating that “providing justice must always remain the first priority of legal practice.”

Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi of the Allahabad High Court added that “a strong Bar is the hallmark of a strong judiciary.”

Oudh Bar Association President S. Chandra also addressed the event, which was conducted by General Secretary L.K. Tiwari. The programme was attended by several judges, Senior Advocates, and office bearers from the Supreme Court, Allahabad High Court, and various district bars.

He had said this while delivering a keynote address on “Technology in the Aid of the Legal Profession – A Global Perspective” at the Bar Association of Sri Lanka’s annual law conference.