Honoured to get highest degree from alma mater: Ex-CJI Sharad Bobde

NAGPUR: Former Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sharad Bobde said he was deeply honoured to receive the Doctor of Law (LLD) from Nagpur University during its 108th convocation on Friday. Though this is his second LLD, he told TOI that he was more content due to the fact that it was bestowed by his alma mater in recognition of his work.
“I had an old association with this historic institution, ever since I graduated in 1977-78 from the University College of Law (Now, Dr Ambedkar law College). When you are graduating, you never think that you will reach a stage where the university would bestow you with the honorary degree one day,” he said.
As the judge couldn’t attend the event held at the convocation hall owing to health reasons, his son Shriniwas, who flew specially from Delhi on Thursday, was handed over the prestigious degree.
Adding that it was a proud moment for him to receive the honor, justice Bobde thanked the NU authorities and former Supreme Court judge Vikas Sirpurkar, who consented to preside over the ceremony. “It’s indeed a great feeling when you remember the extraordinary talent this university has churned out over the years.”
Justice Bobde was earlier conferred with ‘LLD Honoris Causa’ by the Chennai based Tamil Nadu Dr Ambedkar Law University on July 13, 2019, when he was a senior most judge of the apex court. It was bestowed on him by President of India Ramnath Kovind in presence of former Madras High Court Chief Justice Vijaya Tahilramani and Tamil Nadu governor Banwarilal Purohit.
“When I had received first LLD from TN university in 2019, I often used to get queries on when I would be getting it from NU, which is my own university. After today’s function, I hope those queries would be stopped,” he said.
NU however, failed to invite the President or Bombay High Court’s Chief Justice and even governor BS Koshyari, who earlier agreed to personally attend the ceremony, attended it online from Delhi, NU officials told TOI.
Earlier, Sirpurkar exhorted the students to excel in their respective fields and wished them all the best for their future endeavours. While congratulating the medal winners, the former SC judge had listed out names of renowned alumni who passed out from NU. Citing examples of former President of India and ex-CJI Mohammed Hidyatullah, ex-Prime Minister PV Narsimha Rao, former chief ministers, Vasantrao Naik, Sudhakarrao Naik and Devendra Fadnavis, union minister Nitin Gadkari, Sirpurkar called on the students to maintain this rich tradition set by these stalwarts
In his address, Koshyari asked the students to follow the path of truth and honesty and pay respects to the parents, teachers, and the nation.
Vice chancellor Subhash Chaudhari, in his introductory speech, explained on the progress made by the university in the last one year where a chair in the name of Bhagwan Chakradhar Swami was started along with the Constitution Park.
The ceremony started with a traditional procession led by the VC, pro-VC Sanjay Dudhe, registrar Raju Hiwase, Board of Examination and Evaluation (BOEE) director Prafulla Sable, deans – Rajesh Shingru, Sanjay Kavishwar Nirmal Singh, Rajashree Vaishnav, and Management Council members. Owing to the strict Covid-19 protocol, none of the degree holders and medal winners were invited and even the media was barred, due to limitations of 50 persons. All of them would be physically handed over their medals, prizes, and degrees from July 12 onwards, according to the pro-VC.