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Synopsis

The Chief Justice of India became a little vulnerable during his Convocation Address 2024 at the Jigme Singye Wangchuck School of Law.

Justice Chandrachud who is all set to demit office as the Chief Justice of India in November this year, after having served the country for two years, asked if he had achieved everything he set out to do two years ago.

"As my tenure is coming to an end, my mind has been heavily preoccupied with fears and anxieties about the future and the past. I find myself pondering over questions such as: Did I achieve everything I set out to do? How will history judge my tenure? Could I have done things differently? What legacy will I leave for future generations of judges and legal professionals?...", the CJI Chandrachud said.

Adding that while answers to most of these questions lie beyond his control and perhaps, he will never find answers to some of these questions, the CJI added,  However, I do know that, over the last two years, "I have woken up every morning with a commitment to give the job my fullest and gone to bed with the satisfaction that I served my country with utmost dedication. It is in this, that I seek solace. Once you have this sense of faith in your intentions and abilities, it is easier to not get obsessed with the outcomes. You begin to value the process and the journey towards these outcomes.".

CJI also compared Bhutan and India, saying they often find themselves at crossroads with diverse influences, particularly from the West. 

"Both India and Bhutan are home to communities that rely on traditional community-based dispute resolution and governance mechanisms. Such mechanisms must not be shunned as traditional and archaic. Instead, they must be supplemented by modern constitutional ideas. In India, our Constitution itself has provisions which deal with village panchayats and gram sabhas, thereby, institutionalising such processes and imbuing them with modern political thought and procedure...", the CJI remarked.

Addressing the young lawyers, CJI urged them to combine the passion and idealism of their youth with the sophistication and expertise of their training.

"I have come to realize that our ability to contribute to our community is deeply rooted in our self-perception and capacity for self-care. It is crucial to prioritize our well-being and find joy in the process...", he further advicsed them.