RPNLU Students Gain Judicial Insights in Interaction with Justice Rajan Roy

Prayagraj, 11 February 2026 – Dr. Rajendra Prasad National Law University, Prayagraj had the privilege of interacting with Hon’ble Mr. Justice Rajan Roy, Senior Judge, at the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court as part of its flagship initiative ‘Beyond Judgments’. Under the inspiring guidance of Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor, Sr. Prof. (Dr.) Usha Tandon, students – Ms. Tejaswi Sharma and Ms. Soundarya Awasthi interacted with Hon’ble Lordship while the event was recorded by Mr. Kaustubh.

Reflecting on his journey from being a law student at Lucknow University to adorning the Bench, Justice Roy observed that the true education of a lawyer begins and matures inside the courtroom. He acknowledged the role of his seniors at the Bar in instilling discipline, humility, and the art of keen observation. Recalling a personal anecdote, His Lordship shared how practising arguments before a mirror on his grandfather’s advice helped build confidence and clarity—small habits that left a lasting impact on his professional life.

Speaking on the transition from advocacy to adjudication, Justice Roy noted that while lawyers argue from a partisan position, judges must rise above all sides and function strictly within constitutional limits. He emphasised that judicial independence flows from inner strength, especially in an era marked by social media scrutiny and instant public opinion. Decisions, he said, must be taken without fear or favour, guided solely by constitutional values.

On the question of integrity and judicial reasoning, His Lordship underlined that judgments must remain firmly anchored in facts, evidence, and law, uninfluenced by emotions or external pressures. Addressing socially sensitive issues, including caste-based political mobilisations, he stressed the importance of balancing social realities with constitutional discipline, reiterating that courts must respect the functional boundaries of the legislature and the executive.

Highlighting challenges in access to justice, particularly in large states like Uttar Pradesh, Justice Roy pointed to the low judge-to-population ratio as a major concern. He advocated a comprehensive approach involving increased judicial appointments, strengthening of Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanisms, effective case-filtering systems, and strict action against frivolous litigation.

Justice Roy also spoke on the growing role of technology in the judiciary, acknowledging that digitisation and video conferencing have enhanced transparency and accessibility. However, he expressed reservations about the use of Artificial Intelligence in decision making, maintaining that adjudication is a deeply human exercise requiring empathy, discretion, and nuanced reasoning.

Concluding the interaction, Justice Roy urged future lawyers and judges to remain grounded in enduring values. While welcoming innovation and change with each generation, he emphasised that the philosophy of life must prevail over the philosophy of money, and that humility, reflection, and service should remain the guiding principles of the legal profession.

The interaction provided students with a rare and enriching insight into the philosophy, discipline, and human dimensions of judicial life, further strengthening the spirit and purpose of the ‘Beyond Judgments’ series at RPNLU, Prayagraj.