The following is the full text of the Address by the Chief Justice of India, K.G. Balakrishnan on the eve of the National Law Day. November 26 is celebrated as National Law Day because it was on this day in 1949 that the Constituent Assembly of India adopted the Constitution, which then came into effect on January 26, 1950.

My Fellow Citizens,

PATNA: The Patna High Court on Thursday held that the Bihar government appeal challenging the acquittal of Railway Minister Lalu Prasad and former CM Rabri Devi in the disproportionate assets (DA) case, an offshoot of the fodder scam, is maintainable.

Justice RK Datta rejected the plea of Lalu Prasad and Rabri Devi, raising preliminary objection to maintainability of the government's appeal against their acquittal in the case and fixed September 24 as the date for hearing of the appeal at the admission stage.