Sun Sep 21 00:45:00 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary and a news article based on the provided text:
**Summary:**
Speaking at the 10th-anniversary event of VELS School of Law, Supreme Court Justice N. Kotiswar Singh asserted that the foundational values of the Indian Constitution – justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity – are rooted in Indian dharma rather than the French Revolution. He cited historical examples of religious tolerance and egalitarian principles found in ancient Indian texts like the Tirukkural. Other speakers, including Madras High Court Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Srivastava, emphasized the importance of the Rule of Law and the evolving role of legal education in the face of emerging technologies like AI and cyber law. The event also celebrated the growth of the law school and awarded prizes to students who excelled in moot court competitions.
**News Article:**
**Indian Constitution’s Core Values Stem from Dharma, Not French Revolution, Says Supreme Court Justice**
**Chennai, September 21, 2025** – The bedrock principles of the Indian Constitution are deeply intertwined with the ancient concept of dharma, not imported from the French Revolution, declared Supreme Court Justice N. Kotiswar Singh at the 10th-anniversary celebration of the VELS School of Law in Pallavaram on Saturday.
Justice Singh argued that justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity – the cornerstones of the Constitution’s preamble – find their origins in the rich philosophical and cultural heritage of India. “When we drafted the Constitution, did we borrow these expressions…from the French Revolution?” he questioned. “I say, without any hesitation, we did not borrow… Justice is based on Indian tradition… based on dharma.” He clarified that dharma extends beyond religious rituals to encompass a righteous way of life.
Citing the Tirukkural, a classic Tamil text, Justice Singh highlighted a 1,000-year-old understanding of equality, emphasizing the importance of impartiality in the administration of justice. He further pointed to historical instances of religious tolerance in India, such as the welcome extended to Jewish and Parsi communities, and the early arrival of Muslims on the Malabar Coast, as evidence of long-standing traditions of liberty and fraternity. He also noted the Keeladi study and the way that the Harappan civilization perspective had changed.
The event, which marked a decade of legal education at VELS, also featured addresses from prominent legal figures. Madras High Court Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Srivastava stressed the critical role of the Rule of Law in a democratic society and the transformative potential of legal education. Supreme Court Justice R. Mahadevan predicted that emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, digital forensics, and cyber law will significantly shape the legal landscape of the future.
VELS University Chancellor Ishari K. Ganesh highlighted the remarkable growth of the School of Law, which has grown from an initial cohort of 90 students in 2015 to over 2,000 registered advocates today.
The ceremony was attended by a distinguished gathering of judges, including Justice M. Nirmal Kumar, Justice G.K. Ilanthiraiyan, Justice D. Bharatha Chakravarthy, and Justice R. Kalaimathi, as well as representatives from the Bar Council of India and the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. Students who excelled in the inter-college moot court competition were awarded prizes during the event.
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