NLSIU 34th convocation on October 17 after CJI, BCI chief faced student opposition

NLSIU has rescheduled its 34th annual convocation for October 17 after cancelling the earlier September ceremony. The move follows a controversy over proposed attendees and restores an in-person option for graduating students.

In Short

• Executive Council and General Council approved the revised plan on September 9
• Registrar informed students through email about the changed ceremony arrangements
• Graduating students will receive degrees either in person or in absentia

The National Law School of India University (NLSIU) in Bengaluru will hold its 34th annual convocation on October 17, after cancelling the ceremony that had earlier been scheduled for September 12, citing "unavoidable circumstances".

In an email to students, the university Registrar said the decision was taken at the 107th meeting of the Executive Council and the 40th meeting of the General Council held on September 9. The communication said the two governing bodies, chaired by the Chief Justice of India in his capacity as Chancellor of the university, approved the proposal to hold the convocation in October.

The email said, "At the 107th Meeting of the Executive Council and the 40th Meeting of the General Council held on September 9, 2026, NLSIU discussed a proposal to hold the 34th Annual Convocation in October 2026. The Executive Council and the General Council... approved the proposal and resolved to hold the 34th Annual Convocation on October 17, 2026."

DETAILED SCHEDULE, RELEVANT INSTRUCTIONS LATER

The governing bodies also resolved that all graduating students would be formally conferred their degrees on October 17, either in person or in absentia. A detailed schedule and other relevant instructions will be issued separately, the communication said.

The earlier cancellation had followed opposition from students and alumni over the proposed participation of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Bar Council of India Chairperson Manan Kumar Mishra. In a statement dated August 15, students and alumni of NLSIU had condemned the now-withdrawn BCI order to halt the enrolment of students of NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad, and expressed solidarity with them, saying they had shown exemplary courage and moral conviction in speaking truth to power over the police assault on protesting students in Delhi.

The latest communication does not say whether the Chief Justice of India will attend the October 17 ceremony. Earlier, while cancelling the graduation ceremony, the university had said that all graduating students would be conferred their degrees in absentia after due approvals by the governing bodies. The new announcement now sets October 17 as the date for the convocation and the formal conferment of degrees.

(With inputs from PTI)

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