DW BUREAU / SHIMLA

The Himachal Pradesh National Law University (HPNLU), Shimla, held its 2nd Convocation Ceremony today at the Himachal Pradesh Judicial Academy, Shimla. Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu graced the occasion and extended best wishes to the graduating students and encouraged them to pursue their career with hard work, dedication and strong willpower.

Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister shared his own journey, stating, "I also earned a law degree from HPU, but I never practiced. I was interested in politics and social service and with the blessings of the people of the state, I have the opportunity to serve the state today." He said that the real challenges in life begin after obtaining a degree and that true knowledge comes from experience. He further noted that studying law instills confidence in individuals, regardless of their chosen field. Sh. Sukhu stated that his government has brought significant changes under the slogan "Vyavstah Parivartan" by addressing various issues and improving financial conditions over the past two years. He also underscored the legal reforms introduced by the government, making Himachal Pradesh the first state in the country to enact a law ensuring the welfare of 6,000 orphaned children. Additionally, provisions have been made to grant daughters equal rights in property and the legal marriage age for girls has been raised from 18 to 21 years. He said that during the recent budget session, the state assembly passed the HP Anti-Drugs Act and the Organized Crime Act which reinforces the commitment of state government to combating drug-related offenses. He said that strict actions have been taken against drug mafias, leading to the dismantling of the drug supply chain. Furthermore, a State-of-the-Art Rehabilitation Center is being established in Kotla Barog, Sirmaur district, to support youth struggling with drug addiction. He also highlighted significant advancements in the education and healthcare sectors which show the government's commitment to holistic development of the state. Addressing the gathering, Judge of Supreme Court of India Justice Surya kant encouraged students to push beyond their limits, emphasizing that success requires determination and intelligence. He spoke about the challenges faced by law students, including self-doubt, integrity and continuous growth, urging them to face challenges with resilience. He added "Law is not just for those who can afford it, but for those who are in dire need of it." During the ceremony, the Degree of Doctor of Laws, Honoris Causa, was conferred upon Justice Sanjay Karol, Judge of the Supreme Court of India and Justice Rajeev Shakdhar, Former Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court, in recognition of their contributions to the field of law. A total of 451 students received their degrees, including 114 from the B.A. LL.B. programme, 111 from the B.B.A. LL.B. programme, 211 from the LL.M. programme and 15 doctoral candidates awarded Ph.D. degrees. Several outstanding students were recognized for academic excellence. The Founder Vice-Chancellor's Gold Medal for the overall topper in the PG Programme was awarded to Surya Dev Singh Bhandari (2021), Tissy Annie Thomas (2022) and Nivedita Sharma (2023). Sheenam Thakur from the 2018 batch received multiple accolades, including the K.K. Luthra Memorial Gold Medal in Criminal Law, the Sh. Tarsem Kumar Gold Medal as the overall female topper, the Sri Shyam Sunder Goel Memorial Gold Medal for being the overall undergraduate topper, the Founder Chancellor's Gold Medal for being the top Himachal Pradesh domicile student, the Founder Vice-Chancellor's Gold Medal for overall topper and the Founder Chancellor's Fellowship Prize for being the top law student from Himachal Pradesh.

Aditi Sharma, who received the Justice Dharam Paul Sood Gold Medal for exemplary performance in Constitutional Law (2018), Lipi Aryan, who was awarded the K.K. Luthra Memorial Gold Medal in Criminal Law (2019), and Ankita Sharma, who received the Sh. Tarsem Kumar Gold Medal, the Sri Shyam Sunder Goel Memorial Gold Medal, and the Founder Vice-Chancellor's Gold Medal for 2019. Hiaa Sharma was honored with the Founder Chancellor's Gold Medal and the Founder Chancellor's Fellowship Prize among students from Himachal Pradesh for 2019, while Sanchit Sharma received the Justice Dharam Paul Sood Gold Medal for exemplary academic performance in Constitutional Law for 2019.

(editor@dailyworld.in)