Patna, Feb. 14: Chief Justice of India (CJI) Justice H.L. Dattu today said the judiciary was losing its credibility and respectability.

While delivering a convocation address at Chanakya National Law University (CNLU), he added that the profession is a 'learned profession' and not a lucrative one.

A host of dignitaries, including Supreme Court judge Justice Shiva Kirti Singh, Patna High Court Chief Justice L. Narasimha Reddy, Patna High Court judges Justice V.N. Sinha, Justice A.K. Tripathi and Justice Ravi Ranjan, chairman, Bar Council of India, Manan Kumar Mishra and CNLU vice-chancellor A. Lakshminath, attended the convocation.

The CJI said: 'Though the legal profession is a noble one, we have to ascertain the relevance of legal profession in administration of justice. It is essential to look into our own tradition. The professionally experienced lawyers should go for creation of society governed by laws. For that, lawyers have to give full-time attention to the profession.'

He added: 'Legal education must receive top priority. A new set up of laws should come up in the country in relation to socio-economic relationship of the present era. We must understand our nature and environment. We require a new value orientation. Only a culture for justice and tolerance in this country should prevail.'

However, witnessing a large number of girls passing out from the university, Justice Dattu said: 'The society should respect women. I am happy to see lady lawyers.'

Justice Dattu also expressed concern on the rising cost of litigation and long time taken in disposing of cases by the courts.

He said: 'Today, a common man is not equipped to pay the litigation cost. It is exorbitant and expensive. We need to emphasise that justice is not a commodity to be sold to the highest bidder.'

Justice Dattu, while quoting eminent jurist and economist Nani Palkhivala, said: 'The Bar is more commercialised than ever before. The test of success of legal profession is not material success. The problem the judiciary faces today is the problem of falling ethical standards for which it requires a self-regulatory mechanism. As the law holds a position in human affairs, it should come up as the champions of society.'

The CJI also advocated for quick relief to litigants as the judiciary today is beset with the problem of long time taken to dispose cases.

He asked the young passouts to adopt the three Hs in their lives - hard work, honesty and humility.

He said: 'Wherever you go, apart from being a good lawyer, be a good human being. Your approach in life should never be negative. If you have good thoughts, spread it, share it, talk about it. But if you see something bad, don't take it, don't digest it and never talk about it. Life is precious. Think good, talk good and feel good.'

Having a word of praise for the university, the CJI said: 'Age is not a measure of achievement. Within a short span of time, the institute has excelled in serious academic research and training.'

Justice Dattu also motivated the passouts not to worry about failures but to convert failures into stepping stones for success in future.

He said: 'Your character and integrity is the asset of the country. Find inspiration in your surroundings. Don't just live up to the glory of the past but surpass it.'

Around 150 passouts in BA LLB (Hons) were awarded degrees at the convocation by the CJI and other dignitaries.