CJI Surya Kant to attend NLSIU convocation in Bengaluru, no livestreaming of event

Nearly two months after Bengaluru’s National Law School of India University (NLSIU) cancelled the convocation for its students for objecting to Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant attending the event, the university has announced its decision to hold the convocation on October 17. However unlike in the past, the convocation would neither be live streamed nor would phones be allowed inside.

The convocation at NLSIU was cancelled after its students had issued a statement expressing solidarity with NALSAR Hyderabad graduates. Students at NALSAR had protested CJI Suryakant being invited for their convocation.

NALSAR students had argued that they did not want to accept their certificates from the CJI as he had referred to the youth of India as ‘cockroaches’. They also criticised him for his unwillingness to listen to a plea in the Supreme Court over the police violence against protestors demanding then Union Education minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar.

However, following the dissent, Bar Council of India (BCI) Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra threatened to prohibit the enrolment of NALSAR students in the bar. While Chairman Manan Kumar rescinded his statements a day later, NLSIU students said they expressed their “strong disapproval of the CJI (and Mishra) attending the convocation of NLSIU for the same reasons.” It remains unclear if BCI Chairman Manan Kumar will be attending the convocation.

The NLSIU registrar issued a statement on August 27, announcing that the convocation scheduled for September 12 was being cancelled due to “unavoidable circumstances”. This announcement came after talks with students failed to reach a consensus.

In the last few weeks, several rounds of discussions have happened between the college administration, students and alumni. It was eventually decided that the CJI would attend the event.