Sub-Title: Graduating law students will receive their degrees in absentia after a dispute over a formal public invitation to the Chief Justice of India.
Official Notification and Cancellation of Ceremony
The NLSIU Convocation Cancellation followed a dispute between graduating students and the university administration. The National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru, announced that it had called off its 34th Annual Convocation. The administration cited “unavoidable circumstances” for the decision. This marks the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic that NLSIU has cancelled its annual graduation ceremony.
Dispute Begins With Solidarity Statement
The dispute began with a statement issued on August 15. A total of 165 graduating students, 409 continuing students, and 128 alumni endorsed it.
The statement expressed solidarity with graduates of NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad. Those graduates had opposed the proposed presence of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Bar Council of India (BCI) Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra at their convocation.
NLSIU students also opposed CJI Surya Kant presiding over their ceremony. Their concerns followed BCI directives relating to the enrolment of law graduates.
Students Meet CJI Surya Kant in New Delhi
On August 17, NLSIU informed students that CJI Surya Kant wanted to discuss their concerns. He serves as the Chancellor of the university.
A delegation representing the graduating classes then travelled to New Delhi. The students held a 90-minute discussion with the Chief Justice.
After returning to Bengaluru, the graduating students conducted an internal ballot on August 23. A majority voted to attend the convocation with the CJI present. They also agreed to maintain full decorum during the ceremony.
Public Invitation Demand Triggers Fresh Dispute
The university later withdrew the proposed participation of BCI Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra. However, another issue emerged on August 25.
The administration asked the graduating batch to issue a formal public statement inviting CJI Surya Kant to the ceremony. Students objected to this demand. They believed such a statement would contradict their earlier declaration of solidarity with NALSAR graduates.
The students then voted on the proposed condition. One graduating batch rejected the demand. Following this development, the administration cancelled the physical ceremony.
Degrees to Be Conferred In Absentia
The NLSIU Convocation Cancellation means the 2026 graduating class will not attend a physical graduation ceremony. Instead, the university plans to confer degrees in absentia, subject to approval from its Governing Bodies.
NLSIU stated that students can receive their degree certificates through postal delivery. Graduates may also collect their certificates directly from the university campus.
