Row over CJI, BCI chief invites: National Law School cancels 2026 convocation, degrees to be conferred in absentia | Today’s news
The National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru, has canceled its 2026 graduation convocation, according to a report. Bar and bench.
The development comes shortly after students and alumni raised objections to Bar Council of India (BCI) Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra and Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant attending the rally.
More than 700 students and alumni of NLSIU opposed the proposed presence of Mishra and the CJI at the university’s convocation. They also demanded an unconditional apology from BCI to the students and faculty of the National Academy of Legal Studies and Research (NALSAR) University of Law.
University officials notified alumni via email on August 3 that the annual convocation is scheduled for September 12.
The University cites unavoidable circumstances
In a notice issued on August 27, the NLSIU said the convocation would no longer be held due to “unavoidable circumstances”. The university added that the degrees will instead be awarded to graduates in absentia.
“Despite our collective best efforts, we are unable to hold the 34th Annual Convocation due to unavoidable circumstances. All graduates will be conferred degrees in absentia after due approval by the governing bodies,” the announcement said.
Students will have the option to receive their diplomas by courier or pick them up directly from the campus. NLSIU said it will circulate a new form and detailed process to allow graduates to choose their preferred method of obtaining certificates.
Bar and benchciting sources, said CJI Surya Kant subsequently held a 90-minute interaction with NLSIU students to understand and discuss their concerns.
The statement was signed by 165 alumni, 409 current students and 128 alumni. This was followed by the BCI’s decision on August 13 to first stop and then within hours resume the pro registration NALSAR graduation batch after students protested against CJI Surya Kant’s proposed address at their assembly.
“Nothing short of a witch hunt”, say the signatories
Acting as an attack on freedom of speech by BCI, the signatories said the directive asking NALSAR to identify students and teachers associated with the campaign amounted to nothing less than a witch hunt.
“A university convocation is a monumental event in a student’s academic life to celebrate years of hard work and perseverance. In a country where access to higher education is severely limited by barriers of class, caste and gender and poorly designed and conducted entrance exams, the convocation is an important achievement for families. In this context, inviting people in high positions to award degrees to students they have public access to is insulting, humiliating and mocking students and their struggles,” he added.
The students were reportedly angry over allegations that the CJI had refused an urgent hearing on police brutality during the July 20 parliamentary march led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) in Delhi. While Kant claimed to have been misquoted, this marked the second time a questionable statement about his supported political frictions; the very origin of the CJP stems from an earlier report that claimed he had referred to certain youths as “cockroaches” – a claim he also denied at the time.
