NLSIU cancels convocation amid CJI presence row

The decision follows student protests against Chief Justice of India Suryakant's presence at the convocation ceremony.

National Law School of India University (NLSIU) has cancelled its proposed 2026 convocation ceremony scheduled for September 12, citing "unavoidable circumstances."

This decision follows a controversy where students protested the proposed presence of Chief Justice of India Suryakant at the convocation. Subsequently, the Bar Council of India temporarily halted the enrollment process for the 2026 batch of NLSIU. Later, students and alumni also objected to the proposed presence of Bar Council of India Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra and Chief Justice of India Suryakant at the ceremony.

According to a report by Indian Express, the university administration stated,

Degrees will now be awarded to graduating students in absentia. This means students will receive their certificates without attending a formal convocation ceremony. On August 3, the university had informed students via email that the convocation would be held on September 12. However, a new notice issued on August 27 stated that due to "unavoidable circumstances," the ceremony will no longer take place.

The notice stated,

Despite our collective and utmost efforts, we are unable to hold the 34th annual convocation due to unavoidable circumstances. After obtaining the necessary approvals from governing bodies, degrees will be awarded to all graduating students in absentia.

The university stated,

Students can have their certificates sent via courier or collect them from the campus. The university will soon share a new form and the complete process with all graduating students to choose their preferred option.

The 'Cockroach Janata Party' also reacted to this announcement. The organisation's co-convenor, Saurav Das, expressed hope that the graduating batch will organise their own convocation and invite a special guest to honour the students.

Saurav Das said,

I hope the NLSIU graduating batch will organise their own convocation and invite the most honourable guest to honour the students. Do it in Gen-Z style!

It is noteworthy that earlier, the Bar Council of India (BCI) and its chairman for nearly a decade and a half, Manan Kumar Mishra, had issued a directive in honour of CJI Suryakant that all students graduating this year from NALSAR University of Law would not be able to practice law. However, they perhaps underestimated the power of democracy.

Their directive faced such strong opposition that the Bar Council of India (BCI) had to withdraw the order within hours, which had put a halt to the careers of all students graduating this year from NALSAR University of Law in Hyderabad. This order was issued following reports that some students on campus had protested against the proposed programme of Chief Justice Suryakant at the convocation.

According to a report by Bar and Bench, the BCI, the apex regulatory body for legal education and practice, had earlier in the day issued an unprecedented order directing all state bar councils not to enrol any student graduating this year from NALSAR as a lawyer. This action was based on media reports of a campus campaign run by some students. The decision faced tremendous backlash from politicians and social media users. The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), which recently forced the Narendra Modi government to bend on student issues, also warned of another protest.

As per the rules, after completing a law degree and passing the All India Bar Examination (AIBE) held twice a year, a person can be enrolled to practice law. The initial order sent by BCI Chairman and BJP Rajya Sabha MP Manan Kumar Mishra to all state bar councils stated,

No student from NALSAR University of Law who has obtained a law degree in 2026 will be enrolled as an advocate in any state bar council until further orders.

The order also stated that at this stage, the BCI does not consider that mere participation in the concerned representation or campaign renders a person ineligible for enrolment under Section 24A. However, the order mentioned that the BCI is examining the "regulatory aspects controlling entry into the profession" in the case of some applicants. If graduate students are enrolled while such an inquiry is pending, it could create a situation that would be difficult to reverse later and could render statutory inquiries ineffective.

However, following the uproar over this action against campus dissent, Mishra issued a new order "modifying" the earlier order.

The second order stated,

All students will be entitled to enrol in the state bar council of their choice.

However, many who criticised the initial order questioned how protesting the proposed participation of the Chief Justice of India in a campus event could itself be punishable in a democracy. According to media reports, some students of the law university had campaigned to persuade the Vice-Chancellor and other officials not to invite Justice Suryakant to the convocation. It was reported that these students argued that Justice Suryakant's stance on petitions demanding action against security forces' excesses against Jantar Mantar protesters was not in line with established legal jurisprudence.

Recently, the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) postponed its convocation, where Justice Suryakant was to be present. There were reports that the campus administration was advised to postpone the event in view of potential student protests against his presence. However, the institute denied receiving any such advice.