Chief Justice of India urges graduates to server society, remember family sacrifices

- Education is a tool for Nation Building, not just personal success-CJI

- CUH Convocation ceremony held, CJI awards degrees to 1,462 Students

Chandigarh, March 14- The 12th Convocation Ceremony of the Central University of Haryana (CUH) was held with great enthusiasm at the university campus on Saturday. Chief Justice of India, Justice Surya Kant, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court Justice SheelNagu and Director of IIT Ropar Dr. Rajeev Ahuja attended as Guests of Honour. Several other distinguished dignitaries, including Justice Sanjay Vashisth, Punjab & Haryana High Court, Justice N.S. Shekhawat Punjab & Haryana High Court, Sh. Chandra Shekhar, Registrar General, Punjab & Haryana High Court and Sh. NarenderSura, District and Session Judge, Narnaul, DC Capt. Manoj, SP Pooja Vashisth were also present at the ceremony. Vice-Chancellor honoured the Chief Guest and other distinguish guests with memento. Pro-Vice-Chancellor Prof.Pawan Sharma along with University Court Members, Members of Executive Council, Academic Council and Finance Committee, Deans, Directors, Heads of Departments, faculty members, and officials of the district administration, were also present on the occasion.

Justice Surya Kant, Chief Justice,Supreme Court of India extended his greetings to all the distinguished guests, university officials, faculty members, students, parents, and members of the media present at the ceremony.

Justice Surya Kant remarked that the occasion held special significance for him personally. Having grown up and completed his education in Haryana, he reflected on his own journey and the challenges he faced during the early stages of his career. He shared that, unlike many of his peers, he did not initially have strong professional networks or connections. By sharing his experiences, he aimed to encourage students who may come from similar backgrounds, particularly those belonging to middle-class families and reassured them that modest beginnings often prepare individuals for greater achievements in the future.

He also highlighted the remarkable progress made by the Central University of Haryana, noting that the institution had achieved notable accreditation and recognition within a relatively short period since its establishment. Justice Surya Kant commended the university community for its dedication and commitment to academic excellence.

In addition, he congratulated the fifty gold medalists being honored during the convocation ceremony, noting with appreciation that thirty of them were women. He described this as a positive indicator of the growing participation and success of women in higher education.

Justice Surya Kant emphasized that character and sound judgment play a decisive role in shaping the trajectory of an individual’s life. He observed that students from prestigious institutions sometimes struggle under pressure because they may not have faced challenges beyond academic examinations. In contrast, he noted that students from relatively lesser-known institutions often demonstrate greater resilience and seriousness, as their determination is grounded in genuine effort rather than performative achievement.

He further stressed the responsibility that comes with education, stating that the behavior, discipline, and hard work of educated citizens contribute significantly to the development of the nation. According to him, the ability to remain humble and grounded is an essential quality that every student should cultivate.

Justice Surya Kant encouraged students to remember the values instilled in them by their parents and educational institutions. He emphasized that discipline, perseverance, and strong foundational values are crucial for success in both personal and professional life. He urged graduates to remain mindful of the foundations that have supported their journey and to continue contributing positively to society and the nation.

Director, Prof. Rajeev Ahuja, Director, Indian Institute of Technology, Ropar emphasized that convocation marks not only the completion of academic studies but also the beginning of a lifelong relationship with the institution, as students become alumni of the University.

He advised students to maintain integrity and honesty in their professional and personal lives. He cautioned against taking shortcuts to achieve success and stressed that ethical conduct and hard work are essential for sustainable achievements. He also encouraged students to draw inspiration from the Chief Guest present at the ceremony, whose career and contributions serve as an example of dedication and excellence.

Prof. Ahuja further highlighted the growing importance of emerging technologies, particularly Artificial Intelligence. He suggested that such technologies can be effectively utilized in sectors like agriculture, which holds particular relevance for the state of Haryana. He encouraged young graduates to explore opportunities in agricultural innovation and entrepreneurship, thereby contributing to technological advancement in the sector.

Emphasizing national responsibility, he urged students to place the interests of the country above personal gain so that society and the nation can progress collectively. He stressed the importance of collaboration and teamwork, noting that growth should not be viewed solely from an individual perspective but rather from the standpoint of community and societal development.

Prof. Ahuja also motivated students to adopt an entrepreneurial mindset. Instead of limiting themselves to becoming job seekers, he encouraged them to strive to become job providers by creating enterprises and generating employment opportunities for others. He highlighted that the ability to work effectively in teams is a critical skill in achieving such goals.

Addressing the gathering, the Vice-Chancellor Prof. Tankeshwar Kumar expressed pride in hosting the Chief Justice of India, describing him as an inspiration for millions of young Indians. He noted that Justice Surya Kant represents the aspirations of India’s hardworking middle class and stands as a role model for the nation’s youth.

Presenting the university report, the Vice-Chancellor highlighted the significant progress made by the university in academics, research, and infrastructure. He stated that the university has achieved notable improvement in national and international rankings and has secured the 44th position nationally in the World University Rankings, while ranking first among universities in Haryana.

Prof. Kumar informed that the university’s faculty members have published more than 3,000 research papers in Scopus and Web of Science indexed journals, with an H-index of 82. In 2025 alone, faculty members published more than 622 research papers, marking a significant academic achievement. The university is currently working on 22 research projects in collaboration with national and international agencies and has received more than 115 patents. Faculty members also worked on over 147 consultancy projects, attracting substantial research funding.

To promote advanced research, the university has established several modern laboratories. Notably, 18 faculty members from CUH have been included in Stanford University’s list of the world’s top 2% scientists this year as well.

Highlighting infrastructure development, Prof. Kumar said the university has received Rs 274 crore in grants for the development of world-class facilities. Several projects, including a Central Instrumentation Facility, University Computer Centre, new buildings for the School of Engineering and Technology, two women’s hostels, and additional lecture halls, are under construction. Work on a new auditorium and library is also underway, with nearly 300 crore worth of infrastructure projects currently in progress on campus.

Speaking about student diversity, Prof. Tankeshwar Kumar said that 53 per cent of students at the university come from 25 different states, making CUH a vibrant center of India’s cultural diversity. The university regularly organizes events such as National Science Day and the Spandan Festival, showcasing this diversity.

Encouraging students, the Vice-Chancellor urged them to commit themselves to the vision of “Viksit Bharat” (Developed India) and contribute to nation-building. He emphasized the importance of lifelong learning in adapting to the rapidly changing world.

According to Controller of Examinations Dr. Rajeev Kaushik, a total of 1,462 students were awarded degrees during the convocation ceremony. This included 827 postgraduate degrees, 557 undergraduate degrees, and 78 Ph.D. degrees.

For outstanding academic performance, 50 students were awarded gold medals, including 30 female and 20 male students. Among the Ph.D. awardees, 40 were women and 38 were men, reflecting the growing participation of women in higher education and research.

Among all degree recipients, 797 were male students and 665 were female students. Of these, 679 students belong to Haryana, while 783 students come from other states of India, reflecting the national character of the university. The ceremony concluded with a vote of thanks by Registrar Dr.Suneel Kumar.

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Haryana Launches ‘Bhu-Mitra’: A WhatsApp Chatbot for Round-the-Clock Land & Revenue Services

Citizens can now access key revenue services anytime, anywhere both in Hindi and English

Chandigarh, March 14 - The Haryana Revenue & Disaster Management Department has launched Bhu-Mitra, a WhatsApp-based chatbot that provides 24×7 assistance to citizens seeking land and revenue-related services. Available in both Hindi and English, Bhu-Mitra is designed to make government services more accessible, transparent, and efficient for every citizen of the state.

Giving more information in this regard, Financial Commissioner Revenue & Disaster Management Department, Dr. Sumita Misra, stated that Bhu-Mitra is a smart, conversational chatbot accessible directly through WhatsApp — a platform already widely used by citizens of Haryana. Citizens no longer need to visit government offices or navigate complex portals. With just a few taps on their smartphones, they can access a range of essential revenue services from the comfort of their homes, at any hour of the day.

Dr. Misra further stated that through the Bhu-Mitra chatbot, citizens can currently avail four core revenue services — Copy of Jamabandi for land ownership and cultivation records, Copy of Mutation for changes in land ownership, Compensation Registration for related requests, and Deed Registration for property deed assistance. In addition, the chatbot also facilitates Deed Token generation, Land Demarcation requests, Complaint Registration for land and revenue grievances, and real-time Complaint Status Tracking, all through a simple conversational interface on WhatsApp.

Citizens can access Bhu-Mitra by saving the WhatsApp number 95933 00009 and starting a conversation on WhatsApp. The chatbot is available round the clock, 365 days, and supports seamless interaction in both Hindi and English.

Dr. Misra added that by bringing critical revenue services onto a familiar and widely accessible platform like WhatsApp, the department aims to eliminate bureaucratic delays, reduce the need for physical visits, and empower citizens with real-time information at their fingertips. The bilingual interface ensures that the service is inclusive and reaches citizens across all sections of society, including those in rural areas.

She further informed that from next week onwards, all SMS related to deed registration services will also be delivered through the Bhu-Mitra platform, enabling citizens to receive timely updates and information directly via the chatbot.

Dr. Misra said that additional services will be integrated into the Bhu-Mitra platform in the coming weeks, further strengthening digital governance and expanding the scope of citizen convenience. The initiative is part of Haryana’s broader push towards a transparent and technology-driven administrative ecosystem.

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Saini expressed deep sorrow over the demise of Smt. Prem Kaur Kalyan, mother of Haryana Vidhan Sabh Speaker Sh. Harvinder Kalyan.

Chandigarh, March 14 – Haryana Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini has expressed deep sorrow over the demise of Smt. Prem Kaur Kalyan, mother of Haryana Vidhan Sabha Speaker Sh. Harvinder Kalyan.

The Chief Minister said that the news of Smt. Prem Kaur Kalyan’s passing is deeply saddening. He prayed to the Almighty to grant eternal peace to the departed soul and to give strength and courage to the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss.

Sh. Nayab Singh Saini also paid respectful homage to the departed soul and conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the family.

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Faridabad Plot Dispute: Right to Service Commission Orders Compensation to Applicants

Chandigarh, March 14 — The Haryana Right to Service Commission, while hearing a case related to Bhavana Gupta and Amandeep of Faridabad, has observed that the land in question has been under a stay granted by the High Court since 2009. Despite this, the Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP) auctioned the plots on January 18, 2023 and March 22, 2023. Taking serious note of the matter, the Commission observed that, prima facie, the issue could fall within the ambit of contempt of court as well as penal provisions related to fraud.

In its order, the Commission stated that if a private coloniser had sold plots without valid ownership, an FIR would have been registered against them. The Commission also noted that the facts of the present case are similar to earlier cases related to Sanjeev Verma and Himanshu Sharma, which were disposed of by the Commission on February 19, 2026. Based on these observations, the Commission disposed of the present revision petitions and directed that compensation of Rs 5,000 each be paid to both revisionists under Section 17(1)(h) of the Haryana Right to Service Act.

The Commission directed HSVP to pay the compensation within 15 days and submit a compliance report by March 30, 2026. It further clarified that the amount may initially be paid from HSVP’s funds and may subsequently be recovered from the officials found responsible after due inquiry.

The Commission also clarified that the applicants are free to approach the consumer forum, the High Court or any other competent authority if they wish to seek higher compensation for mental harassment, financial loss or other hardships.

It was further noted that since the matter is pending before the court, ensuring possession of the plots is not possible under the present circumstances. The Commission expressed hope that HSVP will continue efforts to take the matter to its logical legal conclusion.