BENGALURU: The National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru, has cancelled its 34th annual convocation for the graduating batch of 2026, citing “unavoidable circumstances”, weeks after students and alumni raised objections to the proposed attendance of Bar Council of India (BCI) chairman Manan Kumar Mishra and Chief Justice of India Surya Kant.In a notice dated August 27, the university said the convocation, which had been proposed for September 12, would not be held. The Academic Administration team had informed graduating students about the proposed date on August 3.“Despite our collective best efforts, due to unavoidable circumstances, we are unable to hold the 34th Annual Convocation,” the registrar said in the notice.The university said all graduating students would instead be conferred their degrees in absentia, subject to the required approvals from its governing bodies.Students will have the option of receiving their certificates by courier or collecting them from the campus. The university said it would share a new form and the process with graduating students to allow them to indicate their preferred option.The cancellation comes against the backdrop of growing opposition among NLSIU students and alumni over the proposed participation of BCI chairman Manan Kumar Mishra and CJI Surya Kant in the convocation.According to Bar and Bench report, more than 700 students and alumni had objected to the two attending the university’s convocation and demanded an unconditional apology from the BCI to the student and faculty community of NALSAR University of Law.The statement was signed by 165 graduating students, 409 current students and 128 alumni.The move followed a controversy at NALSAR after the BCI on August 13 decided to halt the enrolment of the university’s graduating batch after students and faculty objected to the proposed presence of CJI Surya Kant at their convocation. The enrolment decision was restored within hours.The issue subsequently drew attention at NLSIU as students sought to register their opposition to the BCI’s actions and the proposed participation of Mishra and the CJI at their own convocation.The latest decision means the 2026 graduating batch will receive its degrees without the traditional convocation ceremony.Reacting to the development, CJP’s Saurav Das posted on X: “I hope the NLSIU graduating batch organises its own graduation ceremony and invites the most honourable guest to felicitate them. Do it the Gen-Z way!”
