The National Law School of India University (NLSIU) in Bengaluru announced on Thursday that it will not hold its convocation ceremony this year. Instead, the university will send certificates to graduating students by courier. This decision comes in response to opposition from a section of graduating students and NLSIU alumni regarding the invitation extended to Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Bar Council of India (BCI) Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra to attend the ceremony.
Confirmation of Cancellation
Speaking to The Indian Express, NLSIU Vice Chancellor Dr. Sudhir Krishnaswamy confirmed the cancellation and stated that even gold medals would be dispatched to awardees or could be collected from the campus.
“"Students will be conferred their degrees in ‘absentia’ after due approvals by the Governing Bodies. Students may elect to receive their certificates by courier or collect them at Campus," said Dr. Saurabh Bhattacharjee, Registrar of NLSIU, in an email to graduating students.
Earlier this month, the NLSIU Academic Administration team had proposed September 12 as the date for the annual convocation. Approximately 165 graduating students, 409 current students, and 128 NLSIU alumni signed an open letter condemning the BCI’s now-withdrawn order from August 13. This order directed state Bar councils not to enroll this year’s graduates of the National Academy of Legal Studies and Research (NALSAR), Hyderabad, due to their opposition to the invitation to CJI Surya Kant.
