NLSIU: Convocation Officially Set for October 17

• NLSIU's 34th convocation is now scheduled for October 17, approved by the Executive and General Councils.
• The ceremony was originally set for September 12 but was cancelled after students rejected inviting CJI Surya Kant.
• Over 700 current and former students objected to CJI Surya Kant and BCI Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra attending.
• The student objection followed a similar incident where the BCI temporarily halted NALSAR's enrolment for protesting CJI Kant's presence.
• CJI Kant, as NLSIU Chancellor, met students, leading to a vote on August 23 which showed majority support for his attendance without disruption, and with an assurance that Manan Kumar Mishra would not attend.

The initial cancellation of the National Law School India convocation stemmed from significant student opposition regarding the proposed attendance of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant.

The National Law School of India University (NLSIU) has officially scheduled its 34th convocation for October 17, following approval from its Executive Council and General Council on Wednesday. This decision comes after the original ceremony, planned for September 12, was cancelled due to what the university initially termed "unavoidable circumstances."

Graduating students will be formally conferred their degrees on October 17, with options to receive them either in person or in absentia. The university has indicated that students wishing to specify their preferred method of degree reception must complete and submit a designated form. This new date aims to finalize the academic year's ceremonial closure after a period of internal contention.

The initial cancellation of the National Law School India convocation stemmed from significant student opposition regarding the proposed attendance of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant. Graduating students had rejected a demand to publicly invite CJI Surya Kant to the event. This rejection was part of a broader movement, as more than 700 current and former NLSIU students voiced objections to both CJI Surya Kant and Bar Council of India (BCI) Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra attending the convocation.

The student statement of objection was issued in the wake of a related incident involving NALSAR's graduating batch. On August 13, the Bar Council of India had first halted, then, within hours, reversed its decision to restore enrolment for the NALSAR batch. This BCI action was taken because the NALSAR students had also objected to CJI Surya Kant's proposed presence at their own convocation, highlighting a pattern of student resistance to the CJI's attendance at such academic ceremonies.

In an effort to address the escalating NLSIU convocation controversy, CJI Surya Kant, who serves as the Chancellor of NLSIU, met directly with the students to understand their concerns. Following this meeting, a process was initiated where student batches were asked to vote on their willingness to attend a convocation with the CJI present, provided there would be no protest or disruption during the event.

Crucially, students were also given an assurance that BCI Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra would not be attending the function. The vote, conducted on August 23, ultimately revealed majority support among the students for this revised arrangement, paving the way for the university's governing bodies to approve the new October 17 date for the convocation.

This article primarily reports on an internal academic event and related controversy within a legal institution, offering little direct, actionable legal implication for practicing lawyers or compliance officers beyond general awareness of developments within the legal education sector.

Source: Original reporting via Bar & Bench