'Convocation Shouldn't Be Cancelled Over Students' Views' : NLU Delhi Student Body Urges NLSIU To Reconsider Decision
NLU Delhi Students pointed out that there are past instances of other Supreme Court Judges attending the convocation instead of the CJI.
The Governing Council of the Student Bar Council of National Law University Delhi has expressed solidarity with the graduating students of the National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru, following the cancellation of the university's 34th Annual Convocation.
In a statement issued on August 28, the Council urged the NLSIU administration to reconsider its decision and take steps to ensure that the graduating students are given an opportunity to have their convocation conducted without compromising their right, autonomy or freedom of expression.
NLSIU had announced the cancellation of its 34th Annual Convocation, which was scheduled to be held on September 12, citing "unavoidable circumstances". The university said that the graduating students would instead be conferred their degrees "in absentia". The decision was taken following the opposition raised by a section of students to the participation of CJI Surya Kant in the ceremony as a mark of protest over his remarks about the student protests.
The Student Bar Council acknowledged the importance of the Chief Justice of India's association with the convocation, noting that the CJI is the ex-officio Chancellor of NLSIU. However, it said that the concerns and views expressed by the graduating students should not have resulted in the cancellation of the convocation.
"At the same time, we believe that the concerns and views expressed by the graduating students should not have resulted in the cancellation of the convocation itself. A graduating batch must have the autonomy and freedom to express its collective views on matters concerning its convocation, including regarding the invitation of guests to the ceremony. Administrative authority over the conduct of a convocation cannot extend to controlling the substance of students' collective expression," the Council said.
The Council highlighted that a convocation marks the culmination of a student's academic journey and gives the graduating class an opportunity to come together with their parents, families, faculty, friends and others who have been part of or supported their journey.
It also referred to NLSIU's position in legal education in India and said that the university's stature carries a corresponding responsibility to uphold academic freedom, student autonomy and constitutional expression.
The Council further said that the university's decision to confer degrees "in absentia" does not substitute the significance of the graduating class being able to mark the occasion together.
The statement also referred to NLSIU's 33rd Annual Convocation, where the Chancellor had been represented by another judge of the Supreme Court. It urged the university to reconsider the cancellation and explore an arrangement that respects the position of the Chancellor while also respecting the views of the graduating students.
"We are further mindful that, for the 33rd Annual Convocation of NLSIU, the Chancellor had been represented by another Hon'ble Judge of the Supreme Court. Where arrangements permit such representation, the cancellation of an entire graduating class's convocation in circumstances arising from disagreement over a public invitation warrants reconsideration. We therefore urge the University to reconsider the decision and explore an arrangement that respects the position of the Chancellor while also respecting the views of the graduating students," the Council said.
Background
NLSIU had earlier informed students that despite "collective best efforts", the 34th Annual Convocation could not be held due to "unavoidable circumstances".
The university had said that alternative arrangements had been made for conferring the degrees, subject to due approvals by its governing bodies. It also said that students would receive their certificates by courier or could collect them from the campus.
The development after concerns were raised by the 2026 graduating batch of NLSIU and more than 120 alumni over the Bar Council of India's action against the outgoing batch of students of NALSAR, Hyderabad.
On August 15, the students and alumni had condemned the BCI's action, which has since been withdrawn, and demanded an "unconditional apology" from the BCI to the NALSAR student and faculty community.
In the same letter, the students had also demanded reconsideration of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant as the Chief Guest at NALSAR's convocation. They had simultaneously expressed their "disapproval" of CJI Surya Kant attending NLSIU's own upcoming convocation, along with the attendance of BCI Chairman and senior advocate Manan Kumar Mishra.
The BCI had closed all proceedings against the NALSAR 2026 batch by the time the students and alumni issued their August 15 statement.
The NLSIU students, however, had said that the closure of the proceedings did not change their concerns, asserting, “the fact that such unconstitutional and illegal 'proceedings' can be initiated by a statutory body against students and faculty members of a public university in the first place does not alter the nature or the larger impact of such actions.”