Overview
- The National Law School of India University announced on Thursday, August 27 that the 34th Annual Convocation planned for September 12 has been cancelled and will not be rescheduled.
- The university said all graduating students will be conferred their degrees in absentia and will be offered a new form to choose whether certificates are sent by courier or collected from campus.
- More than 700 students and alumni had publicly objected to invitations for Chief Justice Surya Kant and Bar Council of India chair Manan Kumar Mishra, and the student statement called for a BCI apology after its brief enrolment directive at NALSAR was withdrawn.
- Other institutions have changed convocation plans in recent weeks — TISS replaced the CJI as chief guest and OP Jindal altered arrangements — while the CJI has said he did not accept an invitation to preside at NALSAR.
- The cancellation raises questions about regulator authority and campus autonomy, leaves graduates without a formal ceremony, and could prompt more colleges to alter convocation protocols or for students to hold alternative celebrations.