The National Law School of India University (NLSIU) in Bengaluru has announced the cancellation of its 2026 convocation ceremony. Initially scheduled for September 12, the event was called off due to “unavoidable circumstances,” according to a notice dated August 27.
Previously, on August 3, the university administration informed graduating students via email about the upcoming convocation. However, recent developments have led to a change in plans. The notice states, “Despite our collective best efforts, due to unavoidable circumstances, we are unable to hold the 34th Annual Convocation. All graduating students will be conferred their degrees in absentia after due approvals by the Governing Bodies.”
The university has provided students the option to receive their degrees either by courier or in person at the campus. Details regarding this process will be communicated to the students, allowing them to choose their preferred method of receiving their certificates.
Controversy with BCI and CJI
This decision follows significant opposition from students and alumni concerning the attendance of Bar Council of India (BCI) Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra and Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant at the convocation. Over 700 members from the NLSIU community, including alumni and students, expressed their disapproval of Mishra’s and the CJI’s participation.
The objections were rooted in a recent incident involving the BCI at NALSAR University of Law, where the BCI momentarily halted and then reinstated enrolment for NALSAR’s graduating class after protests against CJI Surya Kant’s proposed presence at their convocation. The BCI’s actions were heavily criticized as an infringement on free speech, with the directive to identify those behind the protest being labeled as a “witch-hunt.”
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CJI Surya Kant reportedly engaged in a 90-minute discussion with NLSIU students to address their concerns. A statement, endorsed by 165 graduating students, 409 current students, and 128 alumni, emphasized the significance of convocation as a celebration of academic achievement, particularly in a country where access to higher education is a privilege impeded by various socio-economic barriers.
Inviting figures who have displayed public disdain towards students was regarded as “offensive, humiliating, and a mockery of students and their struggles,” according to the statement. The ongoing tension led BCI Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra to issue an apology to the law student community following the NALSAR convocation incident.
