The National Law University and Judicial Academy in Assam (NLUJA) hosted its fourth convocation ceremony on Saturday in Guwahati, conferring 107 degrees across its academic programs. Of these, 81 graduates received their diplomas in person, while 26 completed the process virtually. The event took place at the Sri Sri Damodaradeva International Auditorium, with Supreme Court Justices Vikram Nath and Ujjal Bhuyan serving as chief guest and guest of honor, respectively.
Justice Nath, who is set to become Chief Justice of India (CJI) in February 2027, delivered the convocation address. Gauhati High Court Chief Justice Ashutosh Kumar, acting as the university’s chancellor, opened the proceedings, while Prof. (Dr.) KVS Sarma, the vice-chancellor, presented the annual university report. The report detailed the expansion of NLUJA’s B.A., LL.B. (Hons.) and LL.M. programs, now offering two sections of 70 students each, alongside the admission of 12 new Ph.D. scholars.
He highlighted the inauguration of the 300-bedded student hostel on March 15, 2026, built with the financial assistance of the Government of Assam, The report further highlighted achievements in mooting competitions, client counseling, and sports, along with the distribution of ₹16.50 lakh in institutional scholarships to 55 students.
Among the graduates, Shivam Gupta earned the top position in the LL.M. program with a CGPA of 9.50, receiving the gold medal. Shambhavi led the B.A., LL.B. (Hons.) cohort with a CGPA of 9.78. Six Ph.D. candidates—Bipasha Saikia, Sajidur Rahman, Nihal Chhetri, Jay Jaiswal, Jayashri Rajbangshi, and Jafreen Haque—were conferred degrees for research on topics including geographical indications, misleading advertisements, transgender persons’ right to health, urban groundwater depletion, undertrial prisoners in Assam, and juvenile justice in Assam.
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New Book Marks NLUJA’s Research Milestone
During the ceremony, the second volume of Intellectual Property Laws: Education for All was launched. Edited by Prof. (Dr.) Debasis Poddar, Dr. Sharmistha Baruah, and Dr. Sabina Yasmin Saharia, the publication shows NLUJA’s commitment to legal research and public engagement.
He urged the graduates to remain humane within the contradictions of law, with the Constitution as their compass and constitutional morality, a concept Dr. BR Ambedkar drew from George Grote, as their guiding principle. Justice Bhuyan referenced philosophical and scientific thought, stating that education serves as both an intellectual asset and a refuge, while acknowledging NLUJA’s role in preparing students for legal practice, particularly in the North-Eastern region.
A message from Assam’s Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, was read aloud, stressing the legal profession’s duty to serve the public and safeguard individual rights. He noted the government’s ongoing support for judicial infrastructure, including in Assam’s newer districts.
Justice Nath Warns on Ethics, Moral Responsibility
Justice Vikram Nath’s speech centered on professional ethics, advising graduates that their careers should not be constrained by rigid expectations. He cautioned that the legal profession’s influence must be wielded with moral responsibility.
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Following the convocation, an alumni dinner was held to honor six NLUJA graduates who cleared the Assam Judicial Service Examination in 2026. The recipients, Anurag Bhuyan, Bansuri Poddar, Medha Basumatary, Minhaz Hussain, Subham Das, and Tarali Neog, had all studied at NLUJA between 2014 and 2023.
Justice Ujjal Bhuyan’s remarks focused on NLUJA’s National Moot Court Competition, where participants debated the admissibility of AI-generated deepfake evidence under the Indian Evidence Act. He quoted Professor Upendra Baxi, who argued that constitutional principles are most tested on marginalized groups, and linked this to Assam’s undertrial prisoner population.
Alumni Panel Highlights North-East Judicial Challenges
The alumni dinner included a panel discussion on judicial reforms in the North-East, moderated by Advocate Debayan Banerjee. The six newly appointed judicial officers addressed challenges in Assam’s Sixth Schedule courts. Subham Das, now a Civil Judge (Junior Division), noted that dispute resolution in tribal regions often requires oral testimony in local languages, including Assamese, a practice he had examined during his LL.M. research on Assamese customary law. Tarali Neog, an LL.M. graduate, emphasized the need for specialized training in juvenile justice, given Assam’s distinct child protection laws, which differ from the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 in handling confession evidence.
The evening concluded with the presentation of awards for the 15th Foundation Day Sports Events, where NLUJA’s cricket team won the inter-university championship and its debate team placed third at the North-Eastern Law Schools’ Moot Court Festival. The Alumni Association also announced a scholarship fund for meritorious students from Sixth Schedule districts, funded by contributions from 2026 judicial service examinees. The event closed with a group photograph featuring graduates, faculty, and the six new judicial officers, symbolizing NLUJA alumni’s transition into Assam’s legal and judicial systems.
