Following weeks of tension regarding the invitations of the Chief Justice of India and the BCI chief, NLSIU-Bengaluru has rescheduled its 34th annual convocation to October 17.

  • The 34th annual convocation of NLSIU is now scheduled for October 17.
  • The previous September 12 date was cancelled due to 'unavoidable circumstances' amid student protests.
  • The controversy centered on the participation of CJI Surya Kant and BCI Chairperson Manan Kumar Mishra.
  • Students can now choose to receive their degrees either in person or in absentia.

The National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru, has finally broken the deadlock surrounding its 34th annual convocation. After a period of significant unrest and administrative uncertainty, the university has officially scheduled the event for October 17. This follows the abrupt cancellation of the September 12 ceremony, which had sparked a wider debate on student dissent within India's premier legal institution.

The turmoil began when students and alumni raised strong objections to the proposed participation of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Bar Council of India (BCI) Chairperson Manan Kumar Mishra. The university had initially attempted to resolve the issue by offering students a binary choice: hold the ceremony with the CJI or forgo the convocation entirely.

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Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that this incident is a symptom of a larger trend where law students are increasingly challenging the traditional hierarchies of the legal fraternity. The ripple effect from NALSAR to NLSIU suggests that the student community is now acting as a collective watchdog over the perceived conduct of judicial and regulatory authorities.

The decision to move the date to October 17 was approved during the 107th meeting of the Executive Council and the 40th meeting of the General Council on September 9. Notably, these governing bodies were chaired by the CJI in his official capacity as the Chancellor of the university, indicating a complex administrative overlap.

"The tension at NLSIU represents a pivotal moment where the next generation of lawyers is negotiating the terms of their relationship with the highest offices of the land."

The background of this conflict traces back to NALSAR University of Law in Hyderabad, where students opposed the CJI's presence due to his remarks regarding NEET paper leak protests. This escalated when the BCI attempted to defer the enrollment of NALSAR graduates—a move that was eventually struck down by the Supreme Court, which ruled that the BCI lacks the jurisdiction to penalize students for such protests.

In the case of NLSIU, students reached a compromise by agreeing to the CJI's presence while remaining steadfast in their opposition to BCI Chairperson Manan Kumar Mishra. The university will now circulate a form for students to indicate their preference for attending in person or receiving their degrees in absentia.

Did You Know?: Established in 1987, NLSIU was the first national law university in India and pioneered the five-year integrated LLB program.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Why was the original September 12 convocation cancelled?
A: It was cancelled due to 'unavoidable circumstances,' which were linked to student protests regarding the invitations sent to the CJI and the BCI chief.

Q2: Will the CJI attend the October 17 ceremony?
A: The university has not explicitly confirmed the CJI's attendance for the new date, although he chairs the councils that approved the schedule.