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The university took the decision after students opposed the proposed presence of CJI Surya Kant and Bar Council of India Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra at the ceremony.
File image of National Law School of India University and CJI Surya Kant. (Source: X/PTI)
The National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru, has called off its 34th Annual Convocation, which was scheduled for September 12, citing “unavoidable circumstances”.
The university took the decision after students opposed the proposed presence of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Bar Council of India (BCI) Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra at the ceremony.
The university said degrees will now be conferred to graduating students “in absentia”.
What Did The University Say?
In a notification issued by the Registrar, NLSIU said the decision was taken despite “collective best efforts” to hold the ceremony as planned. The university had informed students on August 3 that September 12 was being considered as the date for the annual convocation.
The notification stated: “…On August 3, 2026, the Academic Administration team had emailed the graduating students with advance notice of September 12, 2026 as the proposed date for the Annual Convocation. Despite our collective best efforts, due to unavoidable circumstances, we are unable to hold the 34th Annual Convocation”.
Also Read: CJI Surya Kant Out As TISS Convocation Chief Guest Amid NALSAR Controversy
Students To Get Degrees Through Courier
NLSIU said alternative arrangements have been made to confer the degrees, subject to the required approvals from its governing bodies. Students will subsequently be able to select how they wish to receive their certificates.
“…The University will share a new form and the process with all graduating students to choose their preferred option later today….” the notification said.
The certificates will either be dispatched to graduates by courier or made available for collection from the university campus.
Students Oppose CJI, BCI Chairman’s Presence In Convocation
The cancellation comes amid a controversy over the proposed participation of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and BCI Chairman and senior advocate Manan Kumar Mishra in NLSIU’s convocation.
On August 15, the 2026 graduating batch, along with more than 120 alumni, had publicly criticised the BCI over its now-withdrawn action against students of NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad.
The students had sought an “unconditional apology” from the BCI to the NALSAR student and faculty community.
The NLSIU students had also called for reconsideration of CJI Surya Kant as the chief guest at NALSAR’s convocation and expressed their “disapproval” of his proposed attendance at NLSIU’s ceremony. They had similarly objected to the presence of BCI chairman Manan Kumar Mishra.
Also Read: ‘Issued In Haste’: BCI Chief On Withdrawal Of Order Against Law Students Amid NALSAR-CJI Row
What Is CJI-NALSAR Controversy?
The controversy began after a group of NALSAR students wrote to the university’s vice-chancellor, registrar and professors opposing any proposal to invite CJI Surya Kant as chief guest for the convocation.
The first representation was submitted on July 23 by 70 members of the outgoing LLB batch. Students from subsequent batches later extended their support to the representation.
The controversy further escalated after the BCI intervened, issuing a directive that barred State Bar Councils from enrolling the university’s 2026 graduates. The move effectively threatened to prevent the graduating batch from entering the legal profession.
The BCI directive triggered a backlash, with questions raised over whether a professional regulator could take action against an entire graduating class over students’ opposition to a proposed chief guest.
The BCI later withdrew the directive, saying the matter would be reconsidered after an inquiry.
While the BCI proceedings against NALSAR had already been closed when the NLSIU students issued their letter, they maintained that the withdrawal did not erase their concerns. “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,” they said.
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Prisha is the Chief Sub-Editor at News18.com, with more than 10 years of experience in national and international news. She specialises in editorial leadership, sharp news judgment, and high-impact st…Read More
August 27, 2026, 1:45 PM IST
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