A section of graduating students at NALSAR University of Law has opposed the reported decision to invite Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant as the chief guest for the 2026 convocation ceremony.
In a representation signed by more than 450 students from the Batch of 2026, the students urged the Vice‑Chancellor, Registrar, and faculty to reconsider the invitation. They cited concerns over recent judicial developments, particularly the CJI’s handling of petitions related to alleged police action against student protesters during the July 20 “Chalo Sansad” march in Delhi.
The letter referred to remarks attributed to Justice Surya Kant, including his refusal to view video evidence of alleged police brutality and his reported comparison of youth to “cockroaches.” Students argued that such conduct was inconsistent with the values of constitutional accountability and academic freedom that a university convocation should embody.
The representation stressed that receiving degrees from a dignitary perceived as dismissive of student grievances would undermine the spirit of the ceremony. Students requested that the administration consult the graduating batch before finalising the choice of chief guest.
The development has sparked debate in legal and academic circles. NALSAR has not yet issued an official response. The controversy comes just weeks after the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai, postponed its convocation amid concerns of possible protests linked to the same issue.
