The National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru, has cancelled its 34th Annual Convocation scheduled for September 12, 2026, after graduating students failed to reach consensus on a proposal requiring them to issue a public statement inviting Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant, who is also the Chancellor of the university, to attend the ceremony.
The decision follows a series of discussions between the university administration and graduating students regarding the proposed attendance of the CJI at the convocation. The graduating batches were formally invited on August 3 to attend the ceremony scheduled for September 12, with a rehearsal planned for September 11. Students were informed that participation in the rehearsal was compulsory for registration for the main ceremony, following which several students and their families reportedly made travel and accommodation arrangements.
On August 15, a public statement signed by more than 700 members of the NLSIU community, including 165 graduating students, expressed solidarity with actions concerning the non-enrolment of NALSAR students and opposed the proposed attendance of the Bar Council of India Chairman and the Chief Justice of India at the upcoming convocation.
On August 17, the graduating batches were informed that CJI Surya Kant, in his capacity as Chancellor, wanted to meet the students to understand their position. A meeting was subsequently held, following which students were asked to vote on whether they would attend a convocation with the CJI present, provided there was no protest or disruption during the event. According to the students, alternatives such as holding the ceremony without the CJI or allowing individual expressions during the event were not offered.
The vote held on August 23 resulted in majority support for attending the proposed convocation arrangement, particularly because cancellation of the ceremony had been presented as the alternative. Students were subsequently assured that BCI Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra would not attend the ceremony.
However, on August 25, the graduating batches were informed that they would also be required to issue a public statement inviting the CJI to attend the convocation. Students were further informed that the ceremony could proceed only if complete consensus was reached, meaning majority support from each of the graduating cohorts.
The students stated that the requirement to issue a public invitation had not been raised during the earlier discussions. The proposal therefore led to renewed deliberations across the university’s four graduating programmes.
During discussions held between August 25 and 26, a majority of students in the B.A., LL.B. (Hons.) programme voted against issuing the proposed public statement. Students cited the late introduction of the requirement, the inability to mention in the statement that the BCI Chairman would not attend, and the fact that the proposed statement would be subject to vetting, among other concerns.
As the required consensus across the graduating batches was not achieved, the university informed students on August 27 that the 34th Annual Convocation and associated events would not be held.
NLSIU subsequently informed the graduating students that their degrees would instead be conferred in absentia. Students will have the option of receiving their degrees by post or collecting them from the university campus.
