NLSIU 34th Convocation on October 17 After CJI, BCI Chief Faced Student Opposition

NLSIU 34th convocation: The National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru, will hold its 34th annual convocation on October 17, after cancelling the ceremony that had earlier been scheduled for September 12, citing “unavoidable circumstances.”

How the Decision Was Made?

In an email to students, the university Registrar said the decision to reschedule was taken at the 107th meeting of the Executive Council and the 40th meeting of the General Council, both held on September 9. These governing bodies, chaired by the Chief Justice of India in his capacity as Chancellor of the university, approved the proposal to hold the convocation in October instead.

The email stated: “At the 107th Meeting of the Executive Council and the 40th Meeting of the General Council held on September 9, 2026, NLSIU discussed a proposal to hold the 34th Annual Convocation in October 2026. The Executive Council and the General Council… approved the proposal and resolved to hold the 34th Annual Convocation on October 17, 2026.”

Degree Conferment Details

The governing bodies also resolved that all graduating students would be formally conferred their degrees on October 17, either in person or in absentia. A detailed schedule and further instructions will be issued separately by the university at a later date.

Why the Original Ceremony Was Cancelled?

The earlier cancellation of the September 12 convocation followed opposition from students and alumni over the proposed participation of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Bar Council of India (BCI) Chairperson Manan Kumar Mishra.

In a statement dated August 15, students and alumni of NLSIU had condemned the now-withdrawn BCI order that sought to halt the enrolment of students at NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad. They had also expressed solidarity with NALSAR students, describing their actions as showing “exemplary courage and moral conviction in speaking truth to power” over the police assault on protesting students in Delhi.

This backdrop of student and alumni opposition to the presence of the CJI and BCI chief at the convocation ultimately led to the original ceremony being called off.

Will the CJI Attend the New Ceremony?

Notably, the latest communication does not clarify whether the Chief Justice of India will attend the rescheduled convocation on October 17. When the university had earlier cancelled the September ceremony, it had stated that all graduating students would instead be conferred their degrees in absentia, following due approvals from the governing bodies.

With the new announcement, however, October 17 has now been set as the confirmed date for both the convocation ceremony and the formal conferment of degrees, though it remains unclear how attendance and participation — particularly regarding the CJI’s presence — will be handled this time.

Why This Matters?

This episode highlights the tension between student and alumni activism and institutional decision-making at one of India’s premier law schools. The controversy stemmed not from the convocation itself, but from broader concerns raised by the student community regarding actions taken against a sister law institution, NALSAR, and how that intersected with the authority figures scheduled to preside over NLSIU’s own ceremony.

For the graduating batch, the rescheduling means an additional month’s wait before their formal degree conferment, though the university’s move to formally confirm a new date and in-person/in-absentia options offers some clarity after weeks of uncertainty following the original cancellation.

Key Highlights

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