The National Law School of India University in Bengaluru has cancelled the convocation for its graduating batch of 2026 due to opposition from students and alumni, who had objected to Chief Justice Surya Kant's attendance at the event. The Bar Council of India (BCI) had initially objected to the invitation and directed state bar councils to defer the enrolment of the graduating batch as advocates, but later withdrew this decision.
The National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru, has announced the cancellation of the convocation for its graduating batch of 2026. The decision was made citing 'unavoidable circumstances', as reported by Bar and Bench on Thursday.
The cancellation came against the backdrop of opposition from more than 700 NLSIU students and alumni to the Chief Justice Surya Kant and Bar Council of India Chairperson Manan Kumar Mishra attending the convocation, according to a report by the legal news outlet. The students had also condemned the BCI’s now-withdrawn action against the outgoing National Academy of Legal Studies and Research batch and demanded an unconditional apology from the regulatory body.
In a statement, the students expressed solidarity with NALSAR students and faculty over two letters issued by the council on August 13. The council had directed state bar councils to defer the enrolment of NALSAR’s graduating batch as advocates, objecting to a campaign by some students against Kant's participation in the convocation.
Later in the night, the council closed all proceedings against the students, saying it was satisfied that the 2026 batch had no role in any 'disturbance or movement'. The BCI withdrew the decision a few hours later, but said that it had sought an inquiry report from the university identifying those who were ‘principally instrumental’ in opposing Kant’s participation in the convocation.
NALSAR had invited the chief justice for the upcoming convocation despite students urging the university to reconsider the decision, citing Kant's response to a petition alleging that police had used excessive force against protesters in Delhi on July 20. On July 22, a bench headed by the chief justice refused to urgently hear a petition about police excesses against protesters. ‘Don’t waste our time and don’t waste your time’, Kant had been quoted as having told the petitioners at the time.
Source:
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