The National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru, has cancelled its 34th Annual Convocation for the graduating batch of 2026, which was scheduled to be held on September 12, citing “unavoidable circumstances”. The decision comes weeks after students and alumni raised objections to Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Bar Council of India (BCI) Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra attending the ceremony.
NLSIU's Academic Administration team had informed graduating students on August 3 that September 12 was the proposed date for the annual convocation. However, a notice issued by the university on Thursday said the ceremony would no longer be held.
“Despite our collective best efforts, due to unavoidable circumstances, we are unable to hold the 34th Annual Convocation,” the university said in its notice dated August 27.
The university said all graduating students would instead be conferred their degrees in absentia, after due approvals from its governing bodies. Students will have the option of receiving their certificates by courier or collecting them from the campus. In absentia means the degrees will be formally conferred without the graduating students being physically present at a convocation ceremony.
“The University will share a new form and the process with all graduating students to choose their preferred option later today,” the notice said.
The cancellation comes against the backdrop of opposition among NLSIU students and alumni to the proposed attendance of CJI Surya Kant and BCI Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra at the convocation. The CJI is the Chancellor of NLSIU and awards degrees to graduating students at the university's annual convocation.
More than 700 NLSIU students and alumni had objected to Mishra and CJI Surya Kant attending the university's convocation. They had also demanded an unconditional apology from the BCI to the student and faculty community of NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad.
The opposition followed a controversy at NALSAR after the BCI, on August 13, moved to halt the enrolment of the university's 2026 graduating batch after students and faculty objected to the proposed presence of CJI Surya Kant at their convocation. The enrollment decision was subsequently restored.
In a statement dated August 15, NLSIU's graduating students, supported by current students and alumni, condemned the BCI's actions and expressed solidarity with students and faculty at NALSAR. The statement was signed by 165 graduating students, 409 current students and 128 alumni.
The students alleged that the BCI's actions were “ultra vires The Advocates Act, 1961” and amounted to a direct attack on the fundamental right to free speech and expression guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution.
They also criticised the BCI's direction to NALSAR to identify students and faculty members involved in making a representation against the proposed attendance of the CJI, describing the move as “nothing less than a witch-hunt”.
The NLSIU students further expressed their disapproval of Manan Kumar Mishra attending their convocation without taking responsibility for his conduct. They also opposed CJI Surya Kant attending the ceremony, citing the developments surrounding the NALSAR controversy.
“A University Convocation is a monumental event in a student’s academic life meant to celebrate years of hard work and perseverance,” the students said in their August 15 statement.
The statement further said that inviting persons holding high office to confer degrees on students “towards whom they have publicly expressed their disdain and condescension” was “offensive, humiliating, and a mockery of students and their struggles.”
The students demanded that the BCI unconditionally apologise to the NALSAR student and faculty community and explain the protocol governing the use of the BCI's official letterhead by its Chairperson. They also called for reconsideration of the proposed participation of CJI Surya Kant and expressed strong disapproval of Manan Kumar Mishra attending the NLSIU convocation.