NLSIU abruptly cancels its 34th convocation following student backlash

National Law School of India University (NLSIU) in Bengaluru has officially called off its 34th annual convocation planned for September 12. University administrators cited unavoidable circumstances for the sudden halt, though widespread student opposition to high-profile guest invitations drove the final decision. Graduating batches received the formal cancellation notice on August 27, abruptly ending plans they had been preparing for since early August when the initial date was finalized. Recent friction between law students and regulatory bodies has intensified across India's premier legal institutions, raising sharp debates about academic independence and external influence. Graduating students will still obtain their qualifications despite the disrupted event. Officials confirmed they will confer all degrees in absentia, pending final approval from governing bodies. Graduates face two distinct choices for securing their physical certificates. They can either pick them up directly from the Bengaluru campus or opt for courier delivery to their registered addresses. A new digital form outlining this distribution process reached students later on August 27.

Lingering Tensions Following Hyderabad Dispute

Trouble started brewing when students and alumni strongly objected to proposed invitations for Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Bar Council of India Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra. This local resistance directly mirrors a recent flashpoint at NALSAR University of Law in Hyderabad. During that similar dispute, law students openly challenged the participation of top judicial figures at their own graduation.

The Bar Council initially retaliated by issuing a harsh directive instructing state councils to block the professional enrollment of NALSAR graduates. Regulatory leaders ultimately withdrew that drastic order, and the chairman issued a public apology. This escalating standoff highlights a growing readiness among young legal minds to confront established hierarchies within the judiciary and regulatory councils. Now, NLSIU graduates must simply submit their preference forms and wait for administrative clearance to secure their hard-earned degrees.