newspop
Bengaluru : Bengaluru’s prestigious National Law School of India University (NLSIU) has cancelled its 34th annual convocation ceremony for the Class of 2026. This decision comes just weeks after the university had informed students that the ceremony would be held on September 12.
However, in a new notice issued on July 27, NLSIU stated that graduating students would now be awarded their degrees in absentia—without a formal ceremony—following approval from the university’s governing body. According to the university, students will be given the option to either have their certificates couriered to them or collect them personally from the campus. A form and necessary instructions regarding this process will be sent to the students shortly.
It is worth noting that this decision follows protests by current students and alumni against the invitation extended to Bar Council of India (BCI) Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra and Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant to serve as chief guests at the convocation.
More than 700 students and alumni had strongly opposed their visit. Additionally, they demanded an unconditional apology from the BCI to the student and faculty community of NALSAR University of Law.
The controversy intensified on August 13 following a BCI decision to suspend the enrollment of the Class of 2026 students from NALSAR University. The BCI had taken this step after NALSAR students opposed CJI Surya Kant’s presence at their convocation ceremony. However, the BCI withdrew the decision within a few hours following widespread backlash. NLSU students and alumni had termed this move by the BCI an attack on freedom of expression. They described the BCI’s directive to identify students and faculty involved in the agitation or protest as a “witch-hunt.”
According to sources, in view of the escalating tension, Chief Justice Surya Kant held a nearly 90-minute-long discussion with NLSU students to understand their concerns and objections. A total of 165 graduates, 409 current students, and 128 alumni had signed a statement supporting the protest against the BCI’s decisions. Consequently, due to this major controversy, the country’s premier law college has had to cancel its convocation ceremony.
Report – Abhijit Tushar Bhatt (Political Editor)
