A Peak into History: Report on the Inauguration Function of the Association published in the Indian Advocate issue..........
"It was an edifying spectacle to see the members of the Bar from all over the country assembled together inspired by a noble ideal in the spacious and modern hall of Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi, the stalwarts of the profession whose names are held as symbols of the best and the noblest aspects of the profession throughout the length & breadth of the Country.
The leaders of the Bar from the various, States and the young & new entrants to the profession, their expressions though somewhat clouded by inner anxieties and doubts but at the same time brightened by hopes and aspirations mingled with each other.
A spirit of oneness and belonging to' the same noble calling prevailed. Every one proudly felt that he was participating in something which is historic and mementous for the future. The participation of the President, the Prime Minister and the Chief Justice of India in the solemn function was very significant.
The fact that these high dignitaries of State once belonged to the Bar and were nurtured by the Bar reminded those who were assembled there of the functions, responsibilities, duties and rights of the members of the Bar as the upholders of freedom, liberty and justice.
The speeches delivered at the function focused the attention of the assembly on a number of problems & aspects of the profession Genesis of the all India Bar.
Shri M. C. Setalvad gave the history of the genesis of the Bar Association in the following words:-
"The attainment of India's Independence, the establishment of democratic institutions in this Country and the attempt to solve the nation's problems by the application of a new socio-economic philosophy have cumulatively ushered in a rapidly changing pattern of Society. Naturally the legal profession cannot remain indifferent to the dynamic changes taking place in the new set up. It is necessary that the members of the Bar should pay serious attention to this problem.
That change may be for good or for bad. So, all these new problems come and these problems can be decided certainly, as far as lawyers are concerned, by specialised training and also by a certain amount of wisdom and a certain understanding of those problems, apart even from their judicial significance, because life is an integrated thing. You cannot separate it in compartments, some part of life meant only for lawyers and judges and some other part meant for somebody else. That is not so."
The leaders of the Bar from the various, States and the young & new entrants to the profession, their expressions though somewhat clouded by inner anxieties and doubts but at the same time brightened by hopes and aspirations mingled with each other.
A spirit of oneness and belonging to' the same noble calling prevailed. Every one proudly felt that he was participating in something which is historic and mementous for the future. The participation of the President, the Prime Minister and the Chief Justice of India in the solemn function was very significant.
The fact that these high dignitaries of State once belonged to the Bar and were nurtured by the Bar reminded those who were assembled there of the functions, responsibilities, duties and rights of the members of the Bar as the upholders of freedom, liberty and justice.
The speeches delivered at the function focused the attention of the assembly on a number of problems & aspects of the profession Genesis of the all India Bar.
Shri M. C. Setalvad gave the history of the genesis of the Bar Association in the following words:-
"The attainment of India's Independence, the establishment of democratic institutions in this Country and the attempt to solve the nation's problems by the application of a new socio-economic philosophy have cumulatively ushered in a rapidly changing pattern of Society. Naturally the legal profession cannot remain indifferent to the dynamic changes taking place in the new set up. It is necessary that the members of the Bar should pay serious attention to this problem.
That change may be for good or for bad. So, all these new problems come and these problems can be decided certainly, as far as lawyers are concerned, by specialised training and also by a certain amount of wisdom and a certain understanding of those problems, apart even from their judicial significance, because life is an integrated thing. You cannot separate it in compartments, some part of life meant only for lawyers and judges and some other part meant for somebody else. That is not so."
In real life they all overlap and in a changing phase of society it becomes so necessary to have some integrated understanding of these various developments so as to be able to deal with it. Shri M. C. Setalvad emphasised the function of the Bar Association to help the lawyers in bringing about a new orientation.
The men of the law cannot afford to stand aside when the country is forging ahead along its newly chosen path. We have to adapt ourselves to these new conditions, discard the notion that we are a mere profession and realise that we can regain the influence which we once exercised in public affairs only if we become the leaders of the people in the changed conditions so as to guide them to the' new destination which they have set themselves to reach.
The Bar Association of India was inaugurated by the President of India on 2nd of April 1960 and in the words of the Chief Justice of India "a red letter day in the history of the legal profession of India when we are for the first time laying the foundations of an all-India Bar which, let us hope, will develop on the right lines and will lay down healthy traditions and sound conventions for the legal profession to follow".
On the inaugural moment of the Bar Association Of India by the President of India Shri M, C. Setalvad, Attorney General of India said "It is in the fitness of things that you Mr. President should initiate the functioning of this nation-wide body of lawyers which has recently come into existence. Having been a notable and distinguished figure at the Bar and having presided at the fashioning of our organic law, the Constitution, it is but appropriate that this Organisation of lawyers which we hope will make a national institution, should be called into activity at your hands".
The eminent speeches delivered at the function Referring to the Bar Association of India in which the President of India said "a body like this can help in resolving many of the difficulties which may arise and in guiding public opinion in the country and if I may say so also members of Legislatures in whose hands power of legislation is vested". He further told that it should not hold any longer, because we are producing legislation on such a mass scale now that it becomes impossible for anyone to keep himself fully acquainted with the trends of the new legislation, and details of it of course are out of the question".
He continued that "It is therefore necessary all the more for those who are in a position to guide and to advise the ordinary man, to keep themselves posted, fully up to date with regard to the trends of the law so that they can give the ordinary man the right type of advice, and their advice should not necessarily be for the winning of a case although it is important for a lawyer to win a case".
The men of the law cannot afford to stand aside when the country is forging ahead along its newly chosen path. We have to adapt ourselves to these new conditions, discard the notion that we are a mere profession and realise that we can regain the influence which we once exercised in public affairs only if we become the leaders of the people in the changed conditions so as to guide them to the' new destination which they have set themselves to reach.
The Bar Association of India was inaugurated by the President of India on 2nd of April 1960 and in the words of the Chief Justice of India "a red letter day in the history of the legal profession of India when we are for the first time laying the foundations of an all-India Bar which, let us hope, will develop on the right lines and will lay down healthy traditions and sound conventions for the legal profession to follow".
On the inaugural moment of the Bar Association Of India by the President of India Shri M, C. Setalvad, Attorney General of India said "It is in the fitness of things that you Mr. President should initiate the functioning of this nation-wide body of lawyers which has recently come into existence. Having been a notable and distinguished figure at the Bar and having presided at the fashioning of our organic law, the Constitution, it is but appropriate that this Organisation of lawyers which we hope will make a national institution, should be called into activity at your hands".
The eminent speeches delivered at the function Referring to the Bar Association of India in which the President of India said "a body like this can help in resolving many of the difficulties which may arise and in guiding public opinion in the country and if I may say so also members of Legislatures in whose hands power of legislation is vested". He further told that it should not hold any longer, because we are producing legislation on such a mass scale now that it becomes impossible for anyone to keep himself fully acquainted with the trends of the new legislation, and details of it of course are out of the question".
He continued that "It is therefore necessary all the more for those who are in a position to guide and to advise the ordinary man, to keep themselves posted, fully up to date with regard to the trends of the law so that they can give the ordinary man the right type of advice, and their advice should not necessarily be for the winning of a case although it is important for a lawyer to win a case".