Himachal News: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu has said that justice in a democracy should not be limited only to the orders of the courts, but it also requires fairness, prudence and correct understanding of the circumstances. He said this while addressing the third convocation of Himachal Pradesh National Law University (HPNLU), Shimla on Sunday, October 11, 2026. The Chief Minister said that the real objective of the law is to give hope of justice to the weaker sections of the society, to listen to the voices of the needy and to assure every citizen of the protection of his rights.
It is necessary to reach justice to weaker sections
Chief Minister Sukhu said that the importance of law is not limited only to rules and court procedures. Its real success is determined by the fact that even the weakest person in the society has hope of getting justice.
He said that in a democracy every citizen should be assured of the protection of his rights. The justice system should be such that the needy people are heard and treated fairly.
Describing the judiciary as an important pillar of democracy, the Chief Minister said that the purpose of all three organs of the Constitution is to serve the citizens and ensure justice.
Also discussed judicial decisions and government rules
At the function, the Chief Minister also mentioned some judicial decisions related to government employees. He said that in some cases, orders for giving financial benefits despite the absence of provisions in the applicable recruitment rules may put additional burden on the state exchequer.
According to Sukhu, it was decided in the year 2003 that contractual employees would not get the benefit of seniority and salary increment. He told that after almost two decades, in a case, the court ordered to give financial benefits, although there was no provision for this in the relevant recruitment rules.
The Chief Minister said that no elected government wants to deprive its employees of financial benefits, but the government also has to keep in mind the position of the state treasury and the applicable rules.
Mentioned about payment for Independence Day celebrations
The Chief Minister also mentioned a matter related to the organization of Independence Day celebrations. He said that after the permission of the High Court, the state government paid Rs 5 lakh to organize the Independence Day celebrations on the grounds of the government school.
He said that it is necessary to maintain a balance between government actions taken in public interest and judicial decisions. The Chief Minister also clarified that the judiciary is an important part of democracy and their aim is not to harm the dignity of any institution. The center of his point was the need to understand the circumstances and the larger public interest while delivering justice.
Message given to law students
In the convocation ceremony, the Chief Minister advised the students completing their studies to face the future challenges with patience, hard work and the spirit of continuous learning.
He said that success should not be measured only by professional achievements. The contribution made to the society is equally important. Referring to his educational career, the Chief Minister said that he had obtained a law degree from Himachal Pradesh University and legal education had proved useful in his political career also.
Along with justice, social responsibility is also important
At the ceremony, Supreme Court judge Justice M.M. Sundaresh also addressed the law students. He said that people who study law have a special role in the society. He appealed to the students to understand the growing impact of new technologies, especially Artificial Intelligence (AI), and be prepared for future challenges.
Degrees and gold medals were awarded to the students in the programme. The Chief Minister also assured all possible assistance to strengthen the educational infrastructure of Himachal Pradesh University and National Law University, Shimla.
The Chief Minister's message was that fairness, protection of citizens' rights and social responsibility should get an important place in the justice system.