Students and alumni of the National Law School of India University (NLSIU) in Bengaluru have opposed inviting Chief Justice Surya Kant to their convocation [1].
The protest signals a growing trend of student activism within India's premier legal institutions regarding the perceived politicization of academic ceremonies and the conduct of legal regulators [1].
In a letter dated Sept. 7, 2024, the NLSIU group expressed their objection to the participation of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Bar Council of India (BCI) Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra [1], [2]. The group criticized the conduct of the BCI chairman and raised concerns about the nature of the invitations [1].
This action follows a similar controversy at NALSAR in Hyderabad, where students also raised objections to the presence of the same officials [1]. The NLSIU students and alumni specifically noted their support for their peers in Hyderabad [2].
"We stand in 'unconditional solidarity' with our counterparts at NALSAR," the students and alumni said [1].
The protesters argued that the presence of these figures could politicize the convocation process [1]. By issuing the letter, the NLSIU community joined a broader conversation about the relationship between the judiciary, the BCI, and the students who will eventually enter the legal profession [2].
The university has not yet released a formal response to the letter regarding the guest list for the upcoming ceremony [1].
“"We stand in 'unconditional solidarity' with our counterparts at NALSAR."”
This coordinated opposition across two of India's top law universities suggests a systemic rift between law students and the leadership of the country's judicial and regulatory bodies. The focus on the BCI chairman and the Chief Justice indicates that students are increasingly scrutinizing the ideological and professional conduct of the figures who oversee their future career paths.
