NLSIU VC denies meeting claims amid convocation row

What Happened

The Vice-Chancellor of the National Law School of India University, Bengaluru, Sudhir Krishnaswamy, states that no request was made to him to meet students to discuss the 2026 convocation. This comes in the context of an open letter by hundreds of graduating students, current students, and alumni opposing the attendance of the Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Bar Council of India Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra at the convocation. Separately, graduating students asserted that the Vice-Chancellor had asked them to form a delegation to meet him. The Hindu attempted to obtain comments from the Vice-Chancellor, but there was no response at the time of publishing the report. The events are tied to convocation activities for 2026 in Bengaluru.

Why It Matters

The dispute centers on who should attend the university’s convocation and which public figures should participate. The open letter signals broad student and alumni concern about the guest list for the ceremony, a matter that intersects with institutional governance and public representation in a flagship Indian law university. The Vice-Chancellor’s denial adds a conflicting narrative about any attempts to organize a student meeting over the convocation plans.

Background

The convocation row involves a dispute over attendance by a sitting Chief Justice of India and a Bar Council of India chairman. An open letter from a large group of students and alumni expressed opposition to these attendees, highlighting a contentious atmosphere surrounding the upcoming convocation in 2026. The report notes that the university at Bengaluru is at the center of this disagreement, with communication attempts between reporters and the Vice-Chancellor not yielding comments at the time of reporting.

Key Facts

• The Vice-Chancellor of NLSIU, Sudhir Krishnaswamy, says there was no request to meet students to discuss convocation details.
• An open letter was written by hundreds of graduating students, current students, and alumni opposing the attendance of CJI Surya Kant and BCI Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra at the convocation.
• Graduating students claimed the Vice-Chancellor had asked them to form a delegation to meet him regarding convocation matters.
• The Hindu reached out to the Vice-Chancellor for comments, but no remarks were provided by publication time.
• The events relate to the convocation 2026 at NLSIU in Bengaluru.

What Happens Next

The report does not specify scheduled next steps beyond the VC’s denial and the ongoing open-letter context. Any future statements from the university or the students and alumni involved would shape the trajectory of the convocation proceedings and attendance decisions.