Dr. Rajendra Prasad National Law University, Prayagraj hosted the Indo-Bhutan Workshop on “Professional Ethics”, bringing together legal luminaries from Bhutan and India for a discussion on the role of ethics in the legal profession, with a special focus on judicial ethics.
The speakers included Justice Rinzin Penjor, Vice President, Bar Council of Bhutan and former Judge, Supreme Court of Bhutan; Mr. Chhime Dorji, Registrar, Bar Council of Bhutan; and Ms. Sonam Yangden, Council Member, Bar Council of Bhutan.
The workshop began with opening remarks by Vice Chancellor, Sr. Professor Dr. Usha Tandon, who welcomed the guests and emphasised on the importance of professional ethics in various phases of the professional journey.
In his keynote session, Justice Rinzin Penjor elaborated on the essence of judicial ethics, emphasizing that the judiciary is not only a legal institution but also a moral one, anchored in integrity, impartiality, and discipline. He drew attention to challenges such as judicial backlogs while reiterating the ethical duty of judges to ensure fairness and equal treatment in every case. Citing Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer and Justice H.R. Khanna, he recalled moments in India's judicial history that stood as examples of courage and professional ethics. He also connected these discussions to international standards, referencing the Bangalore Principles of Judicial Conduct (2002). Adding the Bhutanese perspective, Justice Penjor reflected on the Bhutan Judicial Services Act of 2007, which mandates judges to remain free from political influence while upholding strict ethical codes. He underlined that while Bhutan's judiciary is smaller in scale, the challenges of maintaining ethical standards remain paramount.
Ms. Sonam Yangden highlighted that ethics is about the choices one makes with courage, even when unobserved. She emphasized diligence, integrity, strong legal knowledge, and the work ethic required to preserve the dignity of the legal profession. Mr. Chhime Dorji too stressed the core values of professional ethics, noting that while law provides authority, it is ethics that confers legitimacy on the legal profession.
During Question-and-Answer round, students raised questions on the issues such as role of professional ethics in AI Era, professional ethics of Judges in courtroom, dilemma of practicing ethics in corrupt environment, young professionals take to survive and grow in a corporate law firm without compromising on ethics and young legal professionals maintaining integrity and ethical standards while navigating economic pressures, litigation, and personal ambitions. The panellists explained these questions and told them that the professional ethics lies in the consciousness and it can be practiced anywhere in any circumstances.
The Indo-Bhutan Workshop on Professional Ethics was an event reaffirming the commitment of both India and Bhutan to nurturing a legal culture rooted in conscience, accountability, and professional responsibility.