Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday, October 17, addressed the fifth convocation ceremony of Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia National Law University in Lucknow, where he highlighted changes in the state's law-and-order situation and investment environment. He said Uttar Pradesh had moved away from what he described as the “rule of mafia” towards the “rule of law.” Referring to the situation before 2017, the Chief Minister said concerns about public safety, infrastructure and policy certainty had previously discouraged investors. According to him, establishing the rule of law helped transform the state's image and create conditions for economic growth. During the ceremony, Yogi also presented medals to meritorious students and spoke about constitutional values, judicial independence and the responsibilities of young lawyers. He emphasised that no individual or public office could be placed above the Constitution and urged law graduates to stand against injustice rather than remain silent when confronted with wrongdoing.

Emergency and Justice H.R. Khanna's Dissent Highlighted
During his address, Yogi recalled the Emergency imposed on June 25, 1975, describing it as an important chapter in India's constitutional history. He said the period demonstrated the difference between the rule of law and the rule of a ruler. Referring to former Supreme Court judge Justice H.R. Khanna, who delivered a dissenting opinion during the Emergency-era habeas corpus proceedings, the Chief Minister said standing by constitutional principles could carry personal consequences but ultimately earn a place in history. He also recalled the Allahabad High Court's June 12, 1975, judgment setting aside then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's election, which preceded the declaration of Emergency. Yogi urged young advocates to defend constitutional values, uphold judicial independence and ensure that the law applies equally to everyone. He advised graduates to follow the principle “Satyam Vada, Dharmam Chara,” meaning speak the truth and practise righteousness, and to make continuous learning an essential part of their professional lives.

Investment, Economic Growth and the 2047 Vision
The Chief Minister said public perceptions of Uttar Pradesh had changed significantly over the past decade. Recalling earlier concerns about security, connectivity and policy implementation, he said the state had worked to create a more favourable environment for investment and development. Yogi stated that the government had prepared a roadmap to turn Uttar Pradesh into a one-trillion-dollar economy by 2029-30. He also called on young lawyers to contribute to the vision of a developed India by 2047, stressing that national ambitions must be supported by facts, evidence and honest argument. According to him, legal professionals can play an important role in strengthening institutions, resolving disputes and ensuring access to justice. He encouraged graduates to remain connected to their roots and help address land and family disputes in rural communities. He added that an advocate's reputation and integrity were among their most valuable professional assets, and that no pressure should persuade them to compromise their principles.

AI, Cybercrime and the Responsibilities of Lawyers
Yogi also discussed the growing influence of artificial intelligence in the legal profession. He advised students to use AI as an assistant rather than allow it to replace human judgment. Warning about the consequences of careless legal drafting, he said errors could affect an individual's liberty and undermine justice. He also highlighted the challenges posed by deepfakes, cybercrime and the reliability of digital evidence. According to figures cited in his address, Uttar Pradesh has cyber police stations in all 75 districts and cyber help desks in 1,583 police stations. He further said the state's AI Pragya initiative was providing training to 10 lakh young people. The Chief Minister urged lawyers to develop their legal knowledge, exercise professional care and remain alert to emerging technological challenges. Supreme Court Justice Vikram Nath, addressing the ceremony, said graduation marked the beginning of a new journey and that education's true value would be measured by the positive difference graduates made in other people's lives. Allahabad High Court Chief Justice Arun Bhansali also encouraged students to uphold constitutional values and strengthen the rule of law.

Gold Medals Awarded to Outstanding Students
The convocation ceremony recognised academic excellence across degree and diploma programmes. In the LLM programme, Rupali Jaiswal received the gold medal, Chitra Singh won silver and Saumya Giri secured bronze. In LLB Honours, Tejaswani Kaushal received gold, Esha Agarwal won silver and Nisha Verma secured bronze. Esha Agarwal also received three sponsored gold medals for criminal law, constitutional law and Student of the Year. Tanya Verma was awarded the Pradeep Kumar Agarwal Memorial Gold Medal in taxation, while Malvika Pachauri received the K.K. Luthra Memorial Gold Medal for best mooting. In cyber law, Bhaskar Pandey, Jayant Agarwal and Chirag Nigam received gold, silver and bronze medals, respectively. Awards were also presented in intellectual property rights and media law. Vice-Chancellor Professor Amar Pal Singh said the university had contributed more than 250 judicial officers to Uttar Pradesh and other states over two decades. The event was attended by Justice Vikram Nath, Chief Justice Arun Bhansali, Higher Education Minister Yogendra Upadhyay, university officials, faculty members, students and their families.