The foundation plaque of Indian Institute of Law (IIL) was unveiled by Hon’ble Mr. Justice Uday Umesh Lalit, Judge, Supreme Court of India; Hon’ble Mr. Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai, Judge, Supreme Court of India; and Hon’ble Mr. Justice V. Ramasubramanian, Judge, Supreme Court of India। Mr. Manan Kumar Mishra, Sr. Advocate and Chairman, Bar Council of India (BCI) & Bar Council of India Trust (BCIT); Mr. Ashok Parija, Advocate General, Odisha; Mr. Debi Prasad Dhal, Sr. Advocate and Executive Chairman, BCIT; and a host of legal luminaries graced the Foundation Ceremony of Establishment of Indian Institute of Law (IIL) by BCIT at KIIT Deemed to be University.

IIL, being set up by the Bar Council of India through its trust (BCIT) with the support of KIIT Deemed to be University, will be a model institute of law teachers’ academy for promoting continuous legal education and research along with skill development of law teachers and practicing lawyers. The institute will facilitate young law school teachers of the country and advocates to enhance their expertise, professional skills and acumen. It is the first-of-its-kind institute in the country

Speaking at the Foundation Ceremony, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Uday Umesh Lalit welcomed the establishment of the IIL and commended BCIT and KIIT Deemed to be University for the step. “Change is the only constant in life. Continuing education is important in every profession; it is part of everybody’s life. Perhaps, this is the first step which will again imbibe the culture when we will be having more and more such institutes, and more and more the idea of continuing education taking root in everybody’s mind”, he stated.

Hon’ble Mr. Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai congratulated BCI and KIIT for this very important step. National Law University in Bengaluru set up by BCI in 1988 brought a sea transformation in legal education and quality of lawyers. Similarly, establishment of IIL is also a milestone in the history of Bar Council of India, he said. He expressed confidence that the IIL with the support of BCI and KIIT Deemed to be University will produce the faculties who would provide quality education to the students throughout the country. It will also produce faculties who will imbibe the constitutional values among the students, he said.

Speaking on the occasion, Hon’ble Mr. Justice V. Ramasubramanian said that there are currently more than 1000 law colleges in the country producing about 2.5 lakh law graduates every year. The IIL will address disconnect between academicians and professionals, he added. In his welcome address, Mr. Manan Kumar Mishra said, currently there is no training institute in Law in the country to cater to the skill development needs of law teachers and advocates. Legal education has transformed a lot over the last three decades, said Mr. Ashok Parija. “Today, along with engineering, medicine and management, law has become a preferred field of study for aspirational youths. IIL will go a long way in improving the quality of law faculty in the country”, he said.

Today is a historic day for the KIIT family and fraternity. Today is the Foundation Ceremony of Establishment of Indian Institute of Law at Bhubaneswar, Odisha. Odisha, under the leadership of our Hon’ble Chief Minister, Shri Naveen Patnaik jI has transformed from its dubious picture of natural disasters, poverty and malnutrition to that of progress, development and promise. The establishment of IIL is a matter of pride for Odisha and I am certain the State Government will provide all requisite support for the successful set up and running of IIL. Such a rare feat is possible due to the grand gesture of the Bar Council of India and Shri Manan Mishra Ji, Chairman, Bar Council of India and Bar Council of India Trust. It would not have come to fruition if it were not for the strong will of Shri Manan Mishra ji. Besides his fearless, timeless and unfading contributions in the field of legal jurisprudence of India, he is a good person with a good soul and social bent of mind.

Collaboration between Government and Private sectors in academics at lthis level is a pathbreaking and a norm setting decision that has set a precedent in India. It is a step in right direction for India also as the organisation that is performing and delivering well and ticking all the right boxes should be given encouragement. Our Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi in the recent parliament session also emphasised on performance of the institutions, whether public or private to be the yardstick for encouragement. A glaring example of this can be manifested in Institution of Eminence scheme that has been launched in order to empower the Higher Educational Institutions and to help them become world class teaching and research institutions. Ten public and ten private institutions were identified to emerge as world-class Teaching and Research Institutions. And, I am honoured and proud to say that KIIT has been one among them and has been given a tag of Institution of Eminence.

I vividly remember, how KIIT & KISS started in a two room rented building in 1992-93. In record time, KIIT has added many feathers in its cap and has achieved milestones, moving from strength to strength. It has been ranked No. 1 among self-financing institutions of the country in the Atal Ranking of Institutions on Innovation
Achievements (ARIIA), 2020 of the Ministry of Education, Government of India. KIIT’s Computer Science Faculty has been ranked in the band of 501-600 by The Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2021. It is also pertinent to mention that KIIT has been ranked in 601-800 band for its Engineering and Technology streams. It is also among the Top 100 in terms of Impact in India as per THE Rankings. It has also won The Times Higher Education (THE) Awards Asia 2020 for the best workplace.

Let me share the story of KIIT & KISS’s deep connect and respect for Indian Judiciary and legal luminaries – We have been honoured by the visit and stay of Former Chief Justices of India – Hon’ble H.L. Dattu ji, P. Sathasivam ji , Late Altamas Kabir and Deepak Mishra ji. KIIT created history in 2015 when 13 Judges of Hon’ble Supreme Court and former President, Late Pranab Mukherjee graced the inauguration of All India Seminar on “Global Legal Education” organised by Confederation of Indian Bar in association with KIIT University. In this
very Auditorium where we have all gathered today.
A luncheon to remember- Late Altamas Kabir, the then CJI, took lunch with 20,000 students of KISS along with 250 legal luminaries at KISS in
2011.

All this has been possible because BCI has reposed its trust on me – a person who lost his father at the age of 4, lived amidst dire poverty and unending struggles, who has always thought and done good. Despite all the achievements, leading a simple life in a two bedroom apartment, working tirelessly to dedicate everything to society. This commitment to the cause as a man of action with sincerity and no personal agenda has motivated BCI to come forward to establish IIL with a private university KIIT, that transpires humanism and compassion. It is a brilliant idea and together we will give our very best to turn it into a massive success.