TISS Mumbai reschedules its convocation following student unrest

Tata Institute of Social Sciences will hold its delayed 86th convocation on August 22 in Mumbai. Tata Memorial Hospital Director Dr CS Pramesh will now be the chief guest, replacing Chief Justice of India Surya Kant. This decision follows an abrupt cancellation of the original August 2 event. Officials issued a late-night notice on July 31 to postpone the gathering, citing intelligence inputs about potential demonstrations targeting dignitaries. Campuses across India frequently witness strong student activism shaping administrative decisions and national political debates.

Student representatives and college administrators confirmed that safety concerns drove the postponement. Protests directed at Chief Justice Surya Kant had become a major point of discussion within the campus community. Organisers ultimately decided to delay the ceremony to prevent any disruption and ensure a smooth event for graduating students. By bringing in Dr CS Pramesh, the university aims to move forward with the Graduation event without further controversy.

Hyderabad Law Students Raise Objections

Shortly after the Mumbai institute postponed its ceremony, around 450 students at Hyderabad’s NALSAR University of Law also objected to having Chief Justice Surya Kant as their convocation chief guest. This separate incident prompted severe action from the Bar Council of India, which initially barred the protesting law students from registering with the Bar.

Chief Justice Surya Kant responded to the situation directly in court last week. He defended the scholars, stating that students possess a clear right to protest. He also questioned why the Bar Council interfered in a matter strictly between him and the students. Following these remarks, Bar Council Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra withdrew the hasty punitive order and issued a formal apology to the NALSAR university students.