Cuttack, Aug. 8: President Pranab Mukherjee's speech stressed on the need for making the administration of justice "more representative and responsive" by reworking the fundamental principles at the second annual convocation of the National Law University of Odisha today.

Chief Justice of Orissa High Court D.H. Waghela read out the President's convocation speech today because Mukherjee cut short his two-day trip to the state yesterday after the first lady fell ill.

"Our colonial past sometimes casts its shadow in enforcement of rules and adjudication of disputes. We must evolve to meet the benchmarks of a truly welfare state," Mukherjee said in his speech.

The President also underscored the need for bridging the gap between theoretical concepts practical application. He said: "Legal studies must be made more intellectually stimulating. They must foster critical thinking through the adoption of practice oriented approach".

"Law is as integral to human existence as mankind is to nature," the President said and urged students and legal practitioners to ponder how their actions would affect the common man. "Law educational institutions must not only develop proficiency in their students in the traditionally identified skills of legal reasoning, research and writing. They must also encourage their students to deliberate on noble ideas like equality, liberty, fraternity and social justice."

At the programme, 152 students, including 55 of BA LLB, 54 of BBA LLB, 42 of LLM and one PhD received the degrees and gold medals. Chief minister Naveen Patnaik was the chief guest at the event.