Prudence More Important Than Knowledge Alone, Says CJI Justice Surya Kant at NUJS Kolkata Convocation

Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant on Sunday emphasised that prudence matters more than knowledge alone, urging young law graduates to develop wisdom through experience, reflection, and ethical judgement. Addressing the convocation ceremony of the West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (NUJS), Kolkata, the CJI said that while knowledge can be quickly acquired from books and classrooms, prudence is cultivated slowly through life’s challenges and mistakes.

Speaking as the Chancellor of NUJS, Justice Surya Kant explained that prudence is the ability to understand when to strictly follow the letter of the law and when to interpret its deeper purpose. “Prudence is knowing when to speak and when silence carries greater weight,” he told the graduating students, underlining the importance of restraint, empathy, and thoughtful decision-making in the legal profession.

Convocation Held After Four-Year Gap

The convocation of NUJS, held after a break of four years, saw the graduating of the students of both undergraduate and postgraduate classes. The function was graced by the presence of Supreme Court judges Justice Dipankar Dutta and Justice Joymalya Bagchi as well as Calcutta High Court Chief Justice Sujoy Paul.

Justice Surya Kant, during his speech, referred to the issues of today's society and remarked that currently, people are living in a time when everyone gives their opinions and reacts very fast.

We live in an age of immediacy where people expect responses without waiting. In such a world, judiciousness has become rare—and therefore deeply valuable,” he said.

‘Rules Alone Will Not Guide You, Prudence Will’

Highlighting the ethical complexities of legal practice, the CJI noted that there will be moments when efficiency competes with fairness and when professional success, measured only in numbers, may feel empty. “In those moments, rules alone will not guide you—your prudence will,” he remarked.

He additionally mentioned the legal profession not only as an intellectually challenging one but also as emotionally and psychologically difficult.

He mentioned that the profession demands endurance, rewards the always being, their attitude and often makes long working hours and short deadlines a normal thing.

Justice Surya Kant suggested to the young lawyers that they should locate their mental endurance, ethical light and the long run aim, far above the immediate gratification or success.

He highlighted that professional growth is most genuine when one manages to combine knowledge and wisdom, ambition and integrity, as well as efficiency and compassion.

The speech by CJIs touched the students deeply and was a good reminder that a degree only marks the end of formal education but real education is through experiences, ethical decisions and the courtroom.