NLSIU cancels 2026 convocation amid row over CJI Surya Kant’s invitation

“(S)tudents will be conferred their degrees in ‘absentia’ after due approvals by the Governing Bodies. Students may elect to receive their certificates by courier or collect them at Campus,” Dr Saurabh Bhattacharjee, Registrar, NLSIU, said in an email to graduating students.

Earlier this month, the NLSIU Academic Administration team had emailed the graduating students and proposed September 12 as the date for the annual convocation.

About 165 graduating students, 409 current students and 128 NLSIU alumni had signed an open letter condemning the BCI’s now-withdrawn order of August 13, directing state Bar councils not to enroll this year’s graduates of the National Academy of Legal Studies and Research (NALSAR), Hyderabad, over their opposition to the invitation to CJI Surya Kant to attend their convocation.

“We are aware that the BCI has closed all proceedings against NALSAR. However, the fact that such unconstitutional and illegal proceedings can be initiated by a statutory body against students and faculty members of a public university in the first place does not alter the nature or the larger impact of such actions or dilute the responsibility of the Chairman and the BCI,” NLSIU students said in a statement.

“(A) University Convocation is a monumental event in a student’s academic life meant to celebrate years of hard work and perseverance. A convocation marks an important achievement for families. Inviting persons in high office to confer degrees to students towards whom they have publicly expressed their disdain and condescension is offensive, humiliating, and a mockery of students and their struggles,” the statement added.

The protest in NALSAR followed oral remarks made by the CJI last month while hearing a petition alleging police excesses during the protests against the alleged NEET question paper leak in Delhi. “Please don’t waste our time. We don’t have time to watch these videos,” CJI Kant had said.