Protests Over CJI Surya Kant Invite Lead NLSIU To Cancel Bengaluru Convocation

The National Law School of India University (NLSIU) has reportedly cancelled its 34th Annual Convocation, scheduled for September 12, 2026, amid opposition from students and alumni over the proposed participation of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Bar Council of India (BCI) Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra. The university cited “unavoidable circumstances” for the cancellation, according to a notice reported by Bar & Bench. The decision means the 2026 graduating batch will receive their degrees in absentia instead of attending the scheduled convocation ceremony. Students have reportedly been given the option of collecting their certificates from the university campus or having them sent to their addresses by courier.

The cancellation comes after growing disagreement within the university community over the proposed participation of the two dignitaries. The controversy intensified after an open letter opposing the proposed attendance of Surya Kant and Manan Kumar Mishra was signed by 165 graduating students, 409 current students and 128 alumni. The signatories reportedly raised objections to the proposed participation of the dignitaries and questioned whether their presence was appropriate for the graduation ceremony. NLSIU students also expressed solidarity with students at Hyderabad’s NALSAR University of Law, where a separate controversy involving the proposed participation of CJI Surya Kant as chief guest had erupted earlier in August.

The dispute at NALSAR escalated after the Bar Council of India briefly barred the 2026 graduating batch from enrolment following student protests. The order was withdrawn within hours amid widespread criticism. In their representation, NLSIU students reportedly argued that inviting individuals whom they accused of displaying “disdain and condescension” towards the student community would be humiliating and could undermine the significance of their academic achievement. The students’ opposition therefore centred not only on the choice of dignitaries but also on what they described as concerns about institutional respect and the dignity of the graduating class.

Also Read: NLSIU Students Join NALSAR Row, Oppose CJI Surya Kant’s Convocation Invite

The developments at NLSIU have unfolded against a broader debate within Indian legal education circles over the relationship between students, universities, professional regulatory bodies and senior members of the judiciary. The NALSAR controversy earlier this month had already drawn considerable attention because of the BCI’s temporary decision concerning enrolment of graduating students following protests. The NLSIU administration has not, in the reported notice, attributed the cancellation directly to the student and alumni protests. Instead, the university cited “unavoidable circumstances” while announcing that degrees would be conferred in absentia.

This distinction is significant because the reported opposition and the cancellation have occurred in the same period, but the university’s formal notice does not establish that the protests were the stated reason for the decision. The cancellation has nevertheless prompted reactions from outside the university. Saurav Das of Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) expressed support for the protesting students in a post on X. He suggested that the graduating batch could organise an alternative graduation ceremony and invite a guest of its own choice, describing such an approach as the “Gen-Z way”.

For the graduating students, the immediate consequence is that the formal convocation scheduled for September 12 will not take place as planned. While students will still receive their degrees, either by collecting them from campus or through courier, the cancellation removes the traditional ceremony marking the completion of their legal education. The episode has placed NLSIU at the centre of a wider discussion over student dissent, institutional decisions and the role of senior legal figures at university ceremonies. With the convocation cancelled and degrees set to be issued in absentia, attention is likely to remain focused on the circumstances surrounding the decision and the continuing debate over the relationship between law students and the institutions governing the legal profession.

Also Read: CJI Surya Kant Says “Cockroach” Remarks Were Misquoted, Used To Mislead Youth