JGLS holds its First Convocation Justice Dalveer Bhandari delivers Convocation Address and confers Degrees on Class of 2012

O. P. Jindal Global University organized its First Convocation Ceremony for the Class of 2012, including students from the 3-year LLB programme offered by the Jindal Global Law School, Sonipat. The august gathering comprised of students, parents, faculty members and highly eminent dignitaries from the Government of India and the Indian Judiciary..The event commenced with the arrival of the Convocation Procession, led by Justice Dalveer Bhandari, Judge, International Court of Justice. He was followed by other distinguished guests; Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Chief Minister of Haryana; Salman Khurshid, Union Minister for Law & Justice, Government of India; Sajjan Jindal, Chairman and Managing Director, JSW Steel Limited; Sonjoy Chatterjee, Chairman, Goldman Sachs (India); Naveen Jindal, Chancellor, O.P. Jindal Global University; Professor Dr. C. Raj Kumar, Vice Chancellor, O.P. Jindal Global University, Faculty Members and students of the Graduating Batch of 2012..Naveen Jindal, Chancellor, declared the Convocation Ceremony Open. Professor Dr. C. Raj Kumar, Vice Chancellor, O.P. Jindal Global University, delivered the Welcome Address and presented a report on the workings and activities of the University’s four Schools. In his address, he reflected upon his first meeting with Chancellor Naveen Jindal, remarking, “I cherish the day when I met you for the first time, on a Monday afternoon on 30th October 2006. Little did we know then that our journey from that day onwards would take us this far in a span of less than six years.”.Professor Raj Kumar, in his address, expressed serious concern over the fact that The Times Higher Education World University Rankings of 2011-12 does not feature a single University from India within the top three hundred of the world. He emphasized that Indian Universities have to undergo dramatic transformation to develop a culture of excellence and catch up with the best in the world..Salman Khurshid, Union Minister for Law & Justice, delivered the Presidential Address on the occasion. He observed and stressed upon the fact that “Private sector needs to participate in the fight against corruption, commensurate with its growing size and influence. Law schools and business schools also have an important responsibility in making non-corruption a part of our essential moral value.” Noting that the Centre for Clinical Programs at JGU, that works for securing the objectives of good governance and citizen participation in the pursuit of the larger social justice mission, won the award for “Best Innovation by a Private University” at the Prestigious World Education Summit, he congratulated and hoped that JGU develops many more such programs and inspires other educational institutions as well..It was followed by the Presentation of Degrees to the Graduating students of LLB, LLM and MBA Classes of 2012, by the Deans of Jindal Global Law School and Jindal Global Business School. The Rank Holders were presented with Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals. Prashant Narang, an LLM student, won the prestigious Nani Palkhiwala Gold Medal for being the LLM Topper Parthan Vishwanathan, from the graduating LLB Batch, bagged the Gold Medal for the Outstanding Law Student Award..The Convocation Address at the ceremony was delivered by Justice Bhandari. He gravely stressed upon the need for strengthening Clinical Legal education. He said, “Education does not stop at educational institutions. The practice of critical thinking and challenging and questioning that you have developed at this institution should be carried forward by you.” Whether you are in India or abroad, do not forget that the responsibility of being a good human being rests on each one of us, all the time, and at all places, he told graduating students and others present on the occasion. While it is good to specialize, Justice Bhandari stressed that it is important to be mindful of the fact that law, society, economy, business, politics, everything is interconnected and you cannot choose to excel in one by ignoring the other..The ICJ Judge also released the Jindal Global Law Review titled ‘Law, Culture and Queer Politics in Neoliberal Times’ and the Jindal Journal of Business Research at the ceremony, the first copy of which was presented to the Law Minister..Professor Y.S.R. Murthy, Registrar, O.P. Jindal Global University, delivered the Vote of Thanks, which was followed by the recital of the National Anthem. The Chancellor, Mr. Naveen Jindal, declared the Convocation Closed and the Convocation Procession returned, marking an end to O. P. Jindal Global University’s First Convocation Ceremony..This report was prepared by JGLS student, Shreyas Gupta