Gavai highlighted trial delays extending for decades as a persistent and damaging issue. He noted instances where individuals spent years in prison as undertrials before being vindicated, underscoring the urgent human cost of systemic inertia. “Delays in trials can sometimes go for decades. We have seen cases where someone has been found innocent after spending years in jail as an undertrial,” he observed, framing the problem as a symptom of a broader crisis requiring immediate attention.
Pointing to “unique challenges”, Gavai warned that the emergency in judicial efficacy is draining public trust and forcing talented minds to reconsider the viability of a legal career in India. He emphasised that structural and procedural reforms are essential to restore credibility and enhance access to justice. His message was clear: without efficient judicial delivery, the very ethos of justice risks eroding.
In that light, Gavai called on law graduates to engage with these challenges, urging them to apply their talent and integrity in driving reform. He said the generation entering the profession must not merely adapt to existing conditions but challenge and transform them. He drew on a quote from US federal judge Jed S. Rakoff’s book Why the Innocent Plead Guilty and the Guilty Go Free: And Other Paradoxes of Our Broken Legal System, to highlight caution and optimism: “Even though I conclude that our legal system is badly in need of fixing, I remain cautiously optimistic that my fellow citizens will rise to the challenge.”
Gavai also advised graduates on navigating professional ambitions, condemning the rising trend of pursuing master’s degrees abroad under peer or parental pressure. He urged them to seek scholarships rather than resort to high-interest loans. He cautioned that borrowing substantial sums—₹50 to ₹70 lakhs—can saddle families with debt and anxiety, sometimes for marginal academic benefit. Instead, he suggested investing initial resources in establishing a practice or chamber and considering international study at a later stage when financially stable.
Beyond external education, Gavai stressed the critical importance of mentorship rooted in integrity. He recounted his personal journey, acknowledging that while hard work mattered, it was the support and belief of a senior who recognised his potential that marked a turning point in his career. This experience shaped his view that mentorship must be grounded in integrity, not influence. He urged today's graduates to seek mentors who uplift—rather than intimidate—and to pay the same forward to future generations.
Mental health in the legal profession also came under scrutiny. Gavai described the career path as mentally taxing, noting the long hours, high expectations and often “ruthless” culture. He emphasised that individuals often feel compelled to appear successful while concealing internal struggles. He advised the new graduates to resist isolation, to share their challenges, and to seek support. He quoted bell hooks: “Rarely, if ever, are any of us healed in isolation. Healing is an act of communion,” encouraging a strong community ethos within the legal fraternity.
The need for systemic nurturing within legal academia was another highlight. Gavai warned against the disconnect experienced by professionals returning from abroad, who often find domestic institutions under-resourced or hostile to new perspectives. He argued for transparent, merit-based pathways, greater funding for early-career research, and a dignified environment for academic innovation. Such support systems, he said, are essential to retaining top legal minds and fostering a dynamic ecosystem of research and practice.
Ultimately, Gavai’s address married realism with resolve. He recognised the enormity of the challenges, from decades-long backlogs to emotional strain and systemic inertia. Yet he balanced critique with cautious optimism, believing in the capability of young lawyers to drive reform. His words bear significant weight given his position as India’s 52nd Chief Justice—entrusted with overseeing the country’s constitutional framework—and carry added resonance as he presides over the judiciary at a time of profound public scrutiny.
Telangana’s Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, Supreme Court Judge P. S. Narasimha and acting Chief Justice Sujoy Paul of Telangana High Court were among dignitaries present at the ceremony. The address was also timed near Gavai’s broader engagement in the city, including a lecture at Osmania University on Dr B. R. Ambedkar’s role in drafting the Constitution, reinforcing his message that constitutional unity must translate into institutional efficacy.
The convocation speech at NALSAR University represents a clear call to action. Faced with deep-rooted delays and cultural challenges, Gavai challenged the upcoming class to fight inertia, build integrity-based networks and press for institutional reform. He characterised their calling not as passive inheritance of a troubled system, but as active architects of its transformation—an urgent and ambitious mission anchored in purpose, integrity and collective responsibility.