NLSIU cancels convocation for 2026 graduating batch - Bar and Bench

**National Law School of India University (NLSIU) has called off the convocation ceremony for its 2026 graduating batch, citing “unavoidable circumstances,” the university said in a statement released on Monday.** The decision, announced just weeks before the scheduled ceremony, marks an unprecedented move for the premier law institute, which traditionally celebrates its graduates with a formal ceremony attended by senior jurists, politicians, and members of the legal community. The university’s communiqué did not elaborate on the nature of the “unavoidable circumstances,” but the timing coincides with an escalating dispute over invitations extended to the Chief Justice of India (CJI) and the head of the Bar Council of India (BCI) to attend the event.

The controversy began when student representatives from the 2026 batch publicly objected to the CJI’s presence, arguing that the Supreme Court’s recent decisions on judicial appointments and the perceived erosion of institutional independence warranted protest. A petition circulated among students demanded the removal of the CJI’s name from the guest list, while also questioning the inclusion of the BCI chief amid ongoing debates about bar council reforms. In response, the administration initially defended the invitations as part of a long‑standing tradition of honoring senior legal officers, but growing unrest on campus—evidenced by rallies and social‑media campaigns—prompted the university to reconsider its plans.

With the convocation now cancelled, NLSIU has promised to explore alternative means of conferring degrees, including a possible virtual ceremony or a rescheduled in‑person event later in the year. Alumni associations and members of the broader legal fraternity have expressed disappointment, noting that the graduation ceremony is a symbolic rite of passage for India’s future lawyers. The episode underscores the heightened sensitivity surrounding judicial appointments and regulatory reforms within the country’s legal ecosystem, and it may set a precedent for how academic institutions navigate political and institutional controversies in the future.