NLU Delhi student body expresses solidarity with NLSIU students over cancelled convocation

The governing council of the student bar council at National Law University, Delhi (NLUD) has expressed solidarity with the graduating batch of National Law School of India University (NLSIU) after their convocation was cancelled.

The August 28 statement from the student body recognises the importance of the Chief Justice of India's (CJI) association with the convocation given that he is the ex-officio Chancellor of NLSIU. However, it argues that at the same time, concerns and views expressed by graduating students should not have resulted in the cancellation of the convocation itself.

"A graduating batch must have the autonomy and freedom to express its collective views on matters concerning its convocation, including regarding the invitation of guests to the ceremony. Administrative authority over the conduct of a convocation cannot extend to controlling the substance of students' collective expression," it says.

The statement notes that NLSIU occupies a significant place in the Indian legal education landscape and remains the institution that countless aspiring law students dream of attending.

"Its (NLSIU's) stature carries with it a corresponding responsibility to uphold the values of academic freedom, student autonomy, and constitutional expression that are central to the legal education it seeks to impart. While the administration has stated that degrees will be conferred "in absentia", this does not substitute the significance of the graduating class being able to mark this occasion together," it adds.

Further, the statement has pointed out that during the 33rd convocation of NLSIU held in September 2025, the then CJI and Chancellor, Justice BR Gavai, was represented by then Justice Surya Kant.

When such representation is permitted, the cancellation of the convocation ought to be reconsidered.

"We therefore urge the University to reconsider the decision and explore an arrangement that respects the position of the Chancellor while also respecting the graduating students," it said.

On August 27, NLSIU cancelled its convocation for the graduating batch of 2026.

On August 3, the administration had emailed the graduating students stating that the annual convocation would be held on September 12.

However, things took a turn on August 15, when over 700 members of the NLSIU community signed a statement objecting to BCI chairperson Manan Kumar Mishra and CJI Surya Kant attending NLSIU's convocation.

The statement by the NLSIU students came after the BCI's August 13 decisions to halt and, within hours, restore enrolment of graduating batch of another law school, NALSAR Hyderabad, for objecting to CJI Surya Kant's proposed presence at their convocation.

After the NLSIU students extended their support for NALSAR students, CJI Surya Kant met with NLSIU students to understand their position and iorn out issues.

It was then understood that students had agreed to attend the convocation after they were assured that BCI chairperson Manan Kumar Mishra would not attend the function.

However, a notice dated August 27 announced that no convocation would be held due to "unavoidable circumstances" and that students would be conferred their degrees in absentia.

It later emerged that the convocation was cancelled after the students rejected a demand by the university authorities to issue a public statement inviting CJI Surya Kant to the ceremony.