The National School of Law India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru, has called off its 34th Annual Convocation ceremony, which was slated to be held on September 12, citing ‘unavoidable circumstances,’ amid opposition from a section of students over the proposed invitation to the Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Bar Council of India (BCI) Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra as chief guests on the occasion.

The university said in a communication to the graduating students by means of an official notice issued on Thursday. The notice read that despite its collective best efforts, it would not be able to conduct the annual convocation as scheduled.

Official circular issued by the institute

The date for the ceremony had earlier been communicated to the students on August 3, 2026.

Degrees to be conferred despite cancellation

The cancellation of the physical ceremony, however, will not affect students’ graduation or their degrees. As per the institute, all graduating students will have their degrees conferred in absentia, subject to the necessary approval from the institute’s governing bodies. Students, therefore, shall not be required to attend a physical convocation for their degrees to be awarded officially.

The university is expected to communicate further details to the students concerned regarding the process, once the required approvals are secured.

Certificates could be collected or sent via courier

NLSIU has offered the students two options for receiving their certificates. They can either have the documents delivered via courier or will be able to collect them from the university campus.

The institute issued a statement, which read that it would share a new form and details of the process with graduating students later on August 27. Students will be able to indicate their preferred method of receiving the certificates through the form.

Cancellation comes after Law School Convocation row

The cancellation of the ceremony comes days after a section of the students from the institute and its alumni raised objections to the proposed invitations to the CJI and the Chairman of BCI. The developments emerge against the backdrop of a controversy at the NALSAR University of Law in Hyderabad, where the BCI had initially directed the state Bar Councils not to enrol the students graduating from the institute after they objected to the CJI’s proposed arrival at the convocation ceremony.

However, hours later, the BCI rolled back the directive, while its Chairman, Mishra, apologised to the students. However, NLSIU has not elaborated on whether the opposition of the students or the proposed participation of the two legal figures was linked to its decision to cancel the September 12 event. The institute has only mentioned ‘unavoidable circumstances’ in its notice.