Bengaluru: After a huge uproar in Aug and Sept over inviting the Chief Justice of India as chief guest, the off-again-on-again convocation of National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru, will be held on Oct 17.However, the university did not explicitly state whether CJI will be officially present at the convocation. Sources claimed the CJI is keen to attend it.NLSIU had cancelled its convocation scheduled for Sept 12 amid a controversy over the participation of CJI and Bar Council of India chief. The standoff erupted after the graduating batch of NLSIU extended support to Hyderabad’s Nalsar students and expressed discontent in having CJI and Bar Council chief attending their convocation.At a meeting on Wednesday, the varsity’s executive council and general council discussed a proposal to hold the 34th annual convocation in Oct. The councils, “chaired by the hon’ble Chief Justice of India in his capacity as Chancellor of the University, approved the proposal and resolved to hold the 34th Annual Convocation on October 17,” said a mail from the university to the students.“The executive council and the general council approved the proposal,” said a mail from the university to the students.The alumni association is learnt to have played a major role in bringing a turnaround. The governing board of Alumni Association of the National Law School of India University, in a letter, explained how it has been engaging in dialogue with NLS and other stakeholders, including the CJI, for holding the convocation. This was acknowledged by the varsity.“During meetings with the CJI, (alumni) office-bearers were received with warmth and accorded a cordial and attentive audience. There was a shared recognition that the larger interests, aspirations, and legitimate expectations of the graduating students must remain paramount,” the association said.The governing bodies resolved that all graduating students would be formally conferred their degrees, either in person or in absentia, on the day. NLSIU has asked graduating students to intimate their choice of receiving their degrees and annulled all earlier notifications relating to the process of awarding degrees.The alumni association held discussions with graduating students across programmes to gauge their views on the convocation. “The overwhelming sentiment is that conferring degrees at a formal convocation carries considerable significance for them and their families. This had been conveyed to the CJI,” the association said.The AA thanked the NLSIU administration, the student cohort and the wider alumni community for their cooperation.
