Karnataka CM DK Shivakumar inaugurates new auditorium, student centre at NLSIU

The CM along with CJI Surya Kant and Karnataka High Court Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru also spoke at the 34th Convocation of NLSIU.

NLSIU 34th convocation

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17 Oct 2026, 7:46 am

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Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, along with Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Karnataka High Court Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru on Saturday laid the foundation stone for the South Block, auditorium and student centre of the National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru.

NLSIU 34th convocation

Speaking at the NLSIU convocation, Shivakumar expressed hope that NLSIU would "create more leaders to save democracy and respect the law of this country."

He expressed pride that Karnataka had taken the lead in setting up national law schools. He recalled that the first one was welcomed with great cheer across the country when he was a student leader. He congratulated Vice-Chancellor (VC) Prof (Dr) Sudhir Krishnaswamy and his team, adding that it was the State's duty to protect the institution.

He also said that the University need not worry about its land or financial needs.

"Do not worry whether it is 7 acres or 10 acres. Whatever you need, the government is committed to helping you in the case of land and even in the financial sector," he stated.

In a post on X, Shivakumar said the new campus was an important step towards strengthening Karnataka's ecosystem for world-class legal education, research and institution-building. He added that it would expand opportunities for future generations of legal professionals.

ಸುಪ್ರೀಂ ಕೋರ್ಟ್‌ನ ಮಾನ್ಯ ಮುಖ್ಯ ನ್ಯಾಯಾಧೀಶರಾದ ಶ್ರೀ ಸೂರ್ಯಕಾಂತ್ ಹಾಗೂ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಹೈಕೋರ್ಟ್‌ನ ಮಾನ್ಯ ಮುಖ್ಯ ನ್ಯಾಯಾಧೀಶರಾದ ಶ್ರೀ ವಿಭು ಬಖ್ರು ಅವರೊಂದಿಗೆ, ಮಾನ್ಯ ಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿಗಳಾದ ಶ್ರೀ ಡಿ. ಕೆ. ಶಿವಕುಮಾರ್ ಅವರು ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿನ 'ನ್ಯಾಷನಲ್ ಲಾ ಸ್ಕೂಲ್ ಆಫ್ ಇಂಡಿಯಾ ಯೂನಿವರ್ಸಿಟಿ' (NLSIU) ಸಂಸ್ಥೆಯ ದಕ್ಷಿಣ ಬ್ಲಾಕ್, ಸಭಾಂಗಣ ಹಾಗೂ ವಿದ್ಯಾರ್ಥಿ ಕೇಂದ್ರದ ನಿರ್ಮಾಣಕ್ಕೆ ಶಂಕುಸ್ಥಾಪನೆ ನೆರವೇರಿಸಿದರು. ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮದಲ್ಲಿ ಭಾರತೀಯ ವಕೀಲರ ಪರಿಷತ್ತಿನ ಅಧ್ಯಕ್ಷರಾದ ಶ್ರೀ ಮನನ್ ಕುಮಾರ್ ಮಿಶ್ರಾ, ರಾಜ್ಯದ ಅಡ್ವೊಕೇಟ್ ಜನರಲ್ ಶ್ರೀ ಕೆ. ಶಶಿಕಿರಣ್ ಶೆಟ್ಟಿ, ರಾಷ್ಟ್ರೀಯ ಕಾನೂನು ಶಾಲೆಯ ಉಪಕುಲಪತಿಗಳಾದ ಪ್ರೊ. ಸುಧೀರ್ ಕೃಷ್ಣಸ್ವಾಮಿ, ರಂಗಶಂಕರದ ಸಹ-ಸಂಸ್ಥಾಪಕಿ ಶ್ರೀಮತಿ ಅರುಂಧತಿ ನಾಗ್, ಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿಯವರ ಆರ್ಥಿಕ ಸಲಹೆಗಾರರಾದ ಶ್ರೀ ಎಲ್. ಕೆ. ಅತೀಕ್ ಸೇರಿದಂತೆ ಹಲವು ಗಣ್ಯರು ಉಪಸ್ಥಿತರಿದ್ದರು. ವಿಶ್ವದರ್ಜೆಯ ಕಾನೂನು ಶಿಕ್ಷಣ, ಸಂಶೋಧನೆ ಹಾಗೂ ಸಾಂಸ್ಥಿಕ ಬೆಳವಣಿಗೆಯ ನಿಟ್ಟಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದ ಬದ್ಧತೆಗೆ ಈ ನೂತನ ಸೌಲಭ್ಯಗಳು ಒಂದು ಪ್ರಮುಖ ಮೈಲುಗಲ್ಲಾಗಲಿವೆ. ಅಲ್ಲದೆ, ಭವಿಷ್ಯದ ಕಾನೂನು ವೃತ್ತಿಪರರಿಗೆ ಇವು ವಿಪುಲ ಅವಕಾಶಗಳನ್ನು ತೆರೆದಿಡಲಿವೆ. Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri @DKShivakumar laid the foundation for the construction of the new South Block, auditorium and student centre at the National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru, in the presence of Hon’ble Chief Justice of India Shri Justice Surya Kant and Hon’ble Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court Shri Justice Vibhu Bakhru. Chairman of the Bar Council of India Shri Manan Kumar Mishra, Advocate General of Karnataka Shri K. Shashi Kiran Shetty, NLSIU Vice-Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) Sudhir Krishnaswamy, Co-Founder of Ranga Shankara Smt. Arundhati Nag, Economic Advisor to the Chief Minister Shri L. K. Atheeq and other dignitaries were also present at the ceremony. The new campus marks an important step towards strengthening Karnataka’s ecosystem for world-class legal education, research and institution-building, while expanding opportunities for future generations of legal professionals.
— CM of Karnataka (@CMofKarnataka) October 17, 2026

The convocation went ahead after NLSIU had earlier cancelled the ceremony scheduled for September 12 after issuing a notice announcing that no convocation would be held for the 2026 batch due to "unavoidable circumstances" and that students would be conferred their degrees in absentia.

The cancellation came amid a controversy over the proposed presence of CJI Kant and Mishra at the ceremony. More than 700 current students, graduating students and alumni had objected to their participation.

The development followed a separate controversy at NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad, where students had opposed the proposed presence of CJI Kant at their convocation.

DK Shivakumar

NLSIU Convocation

NLSIU, Bangalore

CJI Surya Kant