The National Law School of India University (NLSIU) on Thursday cancelled its 34th Annual Convocation for the 2026 graduating batch, citing “unavoidable circumstances”, amid a controversy over the proposed presence of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Bar Council of India (BCI) Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra at the ceremony. The convocation was scheduled to be held on September 12. NLSIU had informed graduating students about the proposed date on August 3, but an August 27 notice from the university said the ceremony would no longer take place.
“Despite our collective best efforts, due to unavoidable circumstances, we are unable to hold the 34th Annual Convocation,” the university said in its communication to students. It did not specify what circumstances had led to the cancellation. All graduating students will instead be conferred their degrees in absentia after the necessary approvals from the university’s governing bodies. Students will be allowed to choose whether they want their certificates delivered by courier or collected from the NLSIU campus. The university said it would provide a form and details of the process to enable students to indicate their preferred option.
Students, alumni opposed guests
The cancellation comes days after more than 700 NLSIU students and alumni opposed the proposed presence of CJI Surya Kant and BCI Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra at the convocation.
A statement opposing their attendance was signed by 165 graduating students, 409 current students and 128 alumni. The signatories also demanded an unconditional apology from the BCI to the students and faculty of NALSAR University of Law in Hyderabad.
The NLSIU students and alumni linked their objections to the controversy surrounding NALSAR’s convocation, where students had opposed the proposed presence of the CJI.
The BCI had on August 13 briefly halted the enrolment of NALSAR’s graduating batch after the controversy. The decision was withdrawn within hours. Students and alumni at NLSIU subsequently described the BCI’s actions as an attack on free speech and criticised its attempt to identify those involved in the campaign.
CJI held talks with students
Amid the dispute, CJI Surya Kant held an interaction lasting around 90 minutes with NLSIU students to understand their concerns, according to reports.
The controversy nevertheless continued, with students questioning the appropriateness of having the CJI and BCI chairman at their convocation in the backdrop of the developments at NALSAR.
The university, however, has not officially linked the student opposition to its decision to cancel the September 12 ceremony. Its notice only cited “unavoidable circumstances” for calling off the event.
The graduating batch will now complete its degree formalities without a physical convocation, with the university expected to communicate further details regarding the distribution of certificates.