The National Law School of India University Act, 1986, mandates the University, inter alia, to "develop in the student and the research scholar a sense of responsibility to serve society in the field of law." (Section 4(1). Thus a main object of the University is to inculcate in students and research scholars such values and principles as are conducive to the development of a sense of responsibility in them to serve society in the field of law. Such a sense of social responsibility cannot be externally imposed; it emanates from the inner sense of ethical and moral values of each individual.

Another core purpose of the for which the University exists is to "advance and disseminate learning and knowledge" To fulfill this core mandate, each member of the University community will need to uphold and promote those values that are essential for learning and the advancement of knowledge such as self discipline, intellectual humility and the capacity to listen, uncompromising commitment to truth, a peaceful and harmonious environment that safeguards the human dignity and self-respect of each student and scholar and promotes calm and quiet reflection and fraternal courtesy and cooperation.

The University's anthem, Tagore's Gitanjali, sets out in powerful terms the values to which the University is committed and reaffirms value-based education and research as the core purpose of the University. It is set out here so that we may once remind ourselves of the values that are celebrated in the poem.

Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high;
Where knowledge is free;
Where the world has not been broken up into fragments by narrow domestic wals;
Where words come out from the depth of truth;
Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards penectonism;
Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way into the dreary sand of
dead habit;
Where the mind is led forward by thee into ever widening thought and action;
Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.

The Constitution of India contains the core values to which we are committed as
a nation - justice, liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship;
equality of status and of opportunity; fraternity assuring the dignity of the
individual and the unity and integrity of the nation.

The NLSIU Act places on the Director the responsibility and authority to maintain discipline among the students.

These principles of conduct and related procedures are intended to best achieve the above purposes and mandate of the University with respect to the education of its students, including the proper maintenance of discipline among students. There can be no single view on what personal values and behaviours are conducive to the achievement of these goals. Nor can values be imposed. Each of us has the responsibility to reflect in our own minds on the mandate of the University and its pledge of value-based education and define for ourselves those personal values and behaviours that we each believe will assist in the realization of these goals. Equally, it is the responsibility of the University to identify and commend those core values and behaviors which the University considers as the minimum necessary for the achievement of these goals. These values are not static. They will need to be continually discussed and debated within the community and must evolve over time. The minimum commended core values of the University include the following:

TRUTHFULNESS in word and deed.

NON-VIOLENCE towards all - sentient beings and inanimate nature;

COMPASSION towards all;

RESPECT FOR THE INHERENT EQUAL HUMAN DIGNITY AND EQUAL STATUS OF ALL PEOPLE irrespective of status or position; abjuring of prejudice or discrimination against anyone including on the basis of gender, caste, religion or region; respectful and courteous behavior towards all.

FREEDOM: Respecting the freedom of all, including their freedom of thought, belief and their freedom to dissent; and exercising such freedom with responsibility not to harm others or impinge on their freedom.

PLURALISM AND PLURI-VERSALISM; respect for and tolerance towards beliefs, ideas and views of others; willingness to listen to and respect ideas opposed to one's own; upholding the right and freedom of each person to pursue, discover and cherish the truth as he or she sees it.

PROFESSIONALISM: upholding the highest standards of professionalism, analytical rigour and sound reasoning; striving towards the highest quality in all work.

SAFEGUARDING THE INTERESTS OF THE COMMUNITY AND AVOIDING HARM TO THE COMMUNITY including -

• Avoidance of any - or violence - physical or verbal - to any other member of the community.
• Safeguarding and enhancing the safety and well-being of oneself and of others; avoidance of behaviour which places any other person at risk - actual or potential.
• Avoidance of unhealthy and harmful competition with other members of the University community; promotion of the mutual fraternity and unity of the community and avoidance of groupism at all levels.
• Sensitivity towards the opinions, beliefs, moral values and sensibilities of other members of the community and avoidance of public behaviour that causes undue disturbance or offence to other members of the community.