Issues of medical science or technology connected to the working of law, says CJI DY Chandrachud

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Synopsis

On Friday, the CJI was felicitated at the Harvard Law School, which is also celebrating it 100th year of the Graduate Law Program

Dr. Justice DY Chandrachud, Chief Justice of India, was on felicitated in-person with the ‘Award for Global Leadership’ conferred by the Center on the Legal Profession, Harvard Law School on 21 October, 2023.

During his chat with David Wilkins, Professor at Harvard Law School and Faculty Director, Center on the Legal Profession, CJI fondly remembered his time at Harvard as an LLM student in 1982-83 and then an SJD candidate in 1983-1986.

He also spoke about the initiatives at the Supreme Court that have been undertaken during his first year of tenure as the Chief Justice, which include incorporation of technology in court processes, launch of Handbook on combating gender stereotypes, etc.

Emphasizing on the importance of interdisciplinary studies, he said that law does not work in vacuum. Issues of medical science or technology are connected to the working of law, he added.

The CJI added that law students should also be involved in clinical legal models, where they are actively involved in real time cases in local areas.

On a question being posed to him on the legal profession being democratized, the CJI referred to the new law clerks scheme, which provides equal access to all to apply for a clerkship at the Supreme Court.

Sharing on his concern about the mental health of lawyers, he suggested that apart from senior lawyers and judges, the law schools should also develop a mechanism to train the students in handling stress and mental health.