Bengaluru: Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant will attend the National Law School of India University (NLSIU) Bengaluru convocation on October 17, with the university confirming that he will preside over the ceremony as its Chancellor.
The university has also named renowned theatre artist Arundhati Nag as the Chief Guest. She will deliver the convocation address to the outgoing batch.
The clarification comes after months of uncertainty surrounding the ceremony, following opposition from a section of NLSIU students and alumni to the CJI being made the Chief Guest.
CJI To Attend As NLSIU Chancellor
According to the university’s official communication, Justice Surya Kant will preside over the convocation in his institutional capacity as Chancellor of NLSIU.
The role of Chief Guest, meanwhile, will be held by Arundhati Nag. This separates the Chancellor’s ceremonial role from that of the guest delivering the convocation address.
The October 17 ceremony will mark the formal graduation of the outgoing 2026 batch of the Bengaluru-based law university.
Read also: Why Did The Supreme Court Refuse The Centre’s Plea In The Great Nicobar Project Case?
Students Had Earlier Opposed CJI As Chief Guest
The latest announcement follows protests by students and alumni earlier this year.
In August, 165 students from the outgoing 2026 batch, along with 409 students from other batches and 128 alumni, had opposed the proposal to have Justice Surya Kant as the Chief Guest at the convocation.
The opposition came in the backdrop of a similar boycott campaign at NALSAR University of Law, where students had protested the CJI’s proposed participation in a convocation over remarks concerning unemployed youth and student protests.
At NLSIU, students had also raised objections to the proposed attendance of Bar Council of India Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra at the ceremony.
Convocation Was Earlier Cancelled
Following the protests and developments surrounding the ceremony, NLSIU announced on August 27 that the convocation had been cancelled, citing “unavoidable circumstances”.
The university subsequently revoked its decision to cancel the event last month. However, it had not immediately clarified whether Justice Surya Kant would attend the rescheduled ceremony.
The latest communication now confirms his participation.
Arundhati Nag To Deliver Convocation Address
With Arundhati Nag named Chief Guest, the convocation address will be delivered by a prominent figure from India’s theatre and cultural landscape.
Nag is widely associated with Indian theatre and has contributed to the performing arts through acting, theatre production and cultural initiatives.
Her presence gives the ceremony a cultural dimension alongside its formal academic proceedings.
Why The Announcement Matters
The clarification is significant because the controversy had centred largely on the proposed role of the CJI as Chief Guest, rather than his institutional position as NLSIU Chancellor.
By confirming Justice Surya Kant as the presiding authority and Arundhati Nag as the Chief Guest, the university has now set out the respective roles for the October 17 ceremony.
The development also brings an end to uncertainty over whether the convocation would take place and whether the CJI would attend.
For the graduating students, the ceremony will formally mark the completion of their academic journey at one of India’s leading national law universities.
