The Convocation of Faculty of Laws, Panjab University, Chandigarh held on 19^th May, 2013 at 10 AM in the Gymnasium Hall [Jawahar Lal Nehru Complex Building] was a great success with flawless distribution of degrees and gold medals to the graduating students of BALLB/LLB/LLM. The Chief Guest of the event was Justice G.S. Singhvi, Hon’ble Judge of the Supreme Court of India; and the guests of honour were Mr Justice M.M. Kumar, Chief Justice, Jammu and Kashmir High Court; and Mr Justice S.S. Saron, Judge, Panjab and Haryana High Court. Among those felicitated were Professor (Dr) Balram Gupta, Director, National Judicial Academy, Bhopal; Professor (Dr) Virendar Kumar, Professor (Emeritus), Panjab University, Chandigarh; Professor (Dr) V.K. Bansal, Former DUI and Professor Emeritus, Panjab University, Chandigarh; and Mr Satya Pal Jain, Senior Advocate and former Member of Parliament of Lok Sabha from Chandigarh.

Amongst the Panjab University functionaries present on the stage were Professor Arun K Grover, Vice Chancellor, Shri Gopal Krishan Chatrath, Dean, Faculty of Laws, Panjab University, Chandigarh; Professor A.K. Bhandari, Registrar; Professor Bhajan Kaur, Acting Chiarperson, Department of Laws, Panjab University, Chandigarh; Professor Sangeeta Bhalla, Director, UILS, PU, Chandigarh and Professor Deepak Kapur, Director, PU Regional Centre, Ludhiana.

Other distinguished persons present on the occasion included members of the senate, Professor Madhu Raka, DUI, PU, Chandigarh; Dr Parvinder Singh, COE, PU, Chandigarh; Justice Sandhawalia, Mr R.L.Kapoor,IAS (Retd); Professor Shashi Sharma, Former Dean (Research); members of faculty of laws from Department of Laws, UILS, PU Regional Centres at Ludhiana, Hoshiarpur and Muktsar, parents of graduating students amongst others.

The event began with a recitation of the Panjab University Anthem. After honouring the distinguished guests, the convocation was declared open by Professor Arun K Grover, Vice Chancellor. Professor Grover also explained to the audience the journey of the Law department from Punjab University, Lahore to present campus of Panjab University in Chandigarh. Several distinguished Judges of the Supreme Court, Chief Justices of different High Courts, Judges of High Courts, Civil servants, academicians are alumni of the Panjab University Law department.

The Chief Guest Mr Justice G.S. Singhvi quoted Dr Rajendra Prasad “Whatever the Constitution may or may not provide, the welfare of the country will depend upon the way in which the country is administered. That will depend upon the men who administer it. It is trite saying that a country can have only the Government it deserves...”

Justice Singhvi also quoted Alexander Flexner “Without ideals, without effort, without scholarship, without philosophical continuity, there is no such thing as education.”

Thereafter LLB/BALLB/LLM degrees were distributed to graduating students of 2011 and 2012. Thereafter gold medals were distributed to students for academic excellence.

The Vice Chancellor thereafter declared the Convocation closed. The event ended with NATIONAL ANTHEM.

Thereafter the students, faculty and distinguished guests were invited for a sumptuous lunch at the Dining Hall of the Golden Jubilee Guest House of PU, Chandigarh.

Early in the morning, Mr Justice MM Kumar, Mr Justice S S Saron, along with Ms Anu Chatrath, Member of Senate, and Professor Deepak Kapur, Director, PU Regional Centre, Ludhiana received Mr Justice G.S. Singhvi at the Chandigarh Airport. After a brief halt at the UT Guest House in Sector 6, Chandigarh, Justice Singhvi along with at least ten Judges of the High Court, several Senior Advocates and other guests had a breakfast at the residence of the Dean, Faculty of Laws, Mr Gopal Krishan Chatrath. Thereafter, they all left for the venue of the convocation. The security and other arrangements made for the distinguished guests were praiseworthy.