President Inaugurates Centenary Celebrations of Patna High Court

The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjeeattendedthe 4thAnnual Convocation of Indian Institute of Management, Raipur today (April 17, 2015) at Raipur, Chhattisgarh.

Speaking on the occasion, the President said that our academic institutes have to be dynamic and hands-on in facing emerging challenges. Institutions of higher education have to promote a culture of excellence and develop core competencies. They have to expand capacity to cater to more students and at the same time uphold the quality of instruction. They have to resort to technology tools like e-classrooms and knowledge to enable sharing of ideas and intellectual resources like lectures and tutorials. He stated that we must also be pro-active in developing a management research culture in the country for which IIMs need to collaborate with best of institutions in the world.

The President said that our academic institutions and industry have to engage with one another and benefit mutually from partnerships in joint research, curriculum development and setting up of chairs, incubation centres and research parks. IIMs must assume greater responsibility for overall development and mitigation of problems concerning our society, community and nation at large.The faculty in IIMs should provide consultancy for policy and project implementation challenges that both Union and State Governments face. Graduates from IIMs should take up projects of relevance to the people of the state and try start companies and corporations which would contribute to the economic development of the area.

The President expressed happiness that IIM Raipur is relentlessly pursuing its objectives of excellence in teaching, learning and human resource development. He stated that he was given to understand that the new state-of-the art campus at Naya Raipur will provide amenities comparable to any world class institute. A concerted and determined effort to renew India, bolstered by ideas and imagination of a premier institution like IIM Raipur can help our nation realize Gandhiji’s dream of a Swachh and Samarth Bharat. He requested the student community of IIM Raipur to always keep in mind the fact that the wonderful education they have received is a contribution of the nation, state and community. Students, in turn, have an important responsibility, not just to themselves and their families but also to this country and the community as whole. He expressed confidence that the students who have earned their degrees today will take part in nation-building of this country in a meaningful way.

This release issued 1750hrs.The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjeeinaugurated the Centenary Year Celebrations of Patna High Courttoday (April 18, 2015) at Patna, Bihar.

Speaking on the occasion, the President said thatwhen the foundation-stone of the Patna High Court building was laid on December 01, 1913, the then Viceroy and Governor-General of India, Lord Hardinge had said: "I feel assured, that within its walls in future days, justice will be administered with courage and impartiality, to the terror of evil-doers, and to the triumph of every cause which is right and true, so that the High Court of Bihar shall earn a name for sound sense and good law." The President stated that if any one goes through the history of Patna High Court, it will be seen that the Court has more than lived up to that expectation of Lord Hardinge. Landmark judgements have been delivered by this Court.

The President said that the many legal luminaries of the Patna High Court included the first President of India and one of the chief architects of our nation, Dr. Rajendra Prasad who was a practitioner before this Court. Shri Syed Hasan Imam who presided over the Indian National Congress in 1918 was also a member of the Patna High Court Bar. The first President of the Constituent Assembly, Dr. Sachchidanand Sinha was a member of the Bar of this Court. Three Chief Justices from Patna High Court namely, Justice B.P. Sinha, Justice Lalit Mohan Sharma and Justice R.M. Lodha went on to become the Chief Justice of India.

The President said that the independence of the judiciary is the cornerstone of our democracy. The judicial system in our country should be not only accessible but also affordable. He urged all judges and lawyers gathered there to join hands in order to achieve the goal of accessible but affordable justice.He also stressed on the need to speed up disposal of cases, as justice delayed is justice denied. He emphasized that integration of information communication technology in Court processes is required.

The President stated that filling of vacancies in courts across the country must be taken up as a priority. The process of selection and appointment of judges should conform to the highest of standards. We must make haste in this regard but without compromising on quality. He stated that the Patna High Court has today 31 judges against the sanctioned strength of 43 judges.

Among the dignitaries present on the occasion were Governor of Bihar, Chief Justice of India, Chief Minister of Bihar, Union Minister of Law & Justice, Union Minister of Communication and Information Technology and Chief Justice of Patna High Court.

This release issued 1515hrs.