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CUTTACK: Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra on Sunday expressed concern over the challenges faced by the premier government-run law schools and universities in the country.

CJI Misra said most of the law schools are doing well but there are challenging issues like lack of good faculty and academic leaders to be appointed as vice-chancellors.

Speaking at the fifth convocation ceremony of National Law University Odisha(NLUO), Misra expressed his concern as law schools are not getting proper funding.

“The state governments have not been very forthright in providing regular funding needed for the law schools to grow, in spite of the fact that all law schools/universities are established with the efforts of the higher judiciary,” said Misra. “I strongly wish that these challenges would be addressed,” added Misra. He highlighted that National Law School of India University (NLSIU) , Bangalore was set up in 1986 to improve the standard of legal education in India and today there are 25 law schools/universities in the country.

Addressing the law graduates, Misra urged them to become the connecting force between the justice delivery mechanisms and the people at large. “You students must always be lucid, articulate, and concrete in your line of reasoning and arguments,” advised Misra.

Former judge of Australia high court, Michael Kirby was awarded honoris causa doctorate degree in law by the NLUO. Speaking on the occasion, Kirby urged the law schools to prepare their students for the upcoming global challenges. “The advance of technology brings us closer together to jumbo jets, artificial intelligence , the integrated biosphere, perils of global epidemics, challenges of the gender revolution. The law school has to prepare its graduates for a global world and a different future,” said Kirby.

At least 167 students were awarded degrees at the convocation ceremony. Vice-chancellor of the university, Srikrishna Deva Rao highlighted the achievements of the university.

Chief Justice of Orissa high court , Vineet Saran and judges of high court and many other dignitaries attended the convocation ceremony of the NLUO.

