Students across several batches at NALSAR University have approached the administration seeking reconsideration of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant as the chief guest for the upcoming convocation, citing remarks reportedly made by him during a Supreme Court hearing concerning allegations of police excesses against ‘Chalo Sansad’ protesters at Jantar Mantar in Delhi.
At least six representations have been submitted to the university authorities over the issue. The first was sent on July 23 to the vice-chancellor, registrar, professors and the administration. Students from five other batches later submitted separate representations supporting the concerns raised in the initial communication.
The convocation date for the 2026-27 batch has not yet been finalised. NALSAR has traditionally had the sitting Chief Justice of India deliver the convocation address.
Students Raise Objection Over Remarks During Hearing
The objection relates to comments attributed to CJI Surya Kant during the hearing of a matter concerning alleged police action against ‘Chalo Sansad’ protesters.
In their July 23 representation, students referred to an exchange in which counsel offered to show videos of the alleged police action. The CJI was reported to have responded: “We are not interested in videos; we don’t have time to watch.”
The representation also cited another remark attributed to him during the proceedings: “Don’t waste our time, and don’t waste your time”.
Students said the reported exchange had prompted them to question whether inviting the CJI as convocation chief guest would be consistent with the principles they associate with their legal education at NALSAR.
They said a convocation should reflect the university’s commitment to constitutional rights, access to justice and reasoned engagement with grievances. The students expressed discomfort at the prospect of receiving their degrees from a dignitary whose reported conduct, in their assessment, appeared dismissive of serious allegations of police brutality against protesting citizens.
Five More Representations Support Initial Objection
Following the July 23 letter, students belonging to five other batches submitted separate representations backing the concerns raised in the first communication.
They asked the university to take the objections into account before finalising its choice of chief guest.
Students claimed that each representation carried around 70 to 80 signatures, putting the combined number of supporters at approximately 350 to 450. The claimed figures could not be independently verified.
A student associated with the Student Bar Council said the objection was not about disrespecting the office of the Chief Justice of India. The student said they respected the CJI’s position but had been taught about the Constitution and constitutional values and did not want to support something they believed went against those principles.
Students Offer To Discuss Concerns With Administration
The students have also expressed willingness to engage directly with the university over their objections.
In the initial representation, they requested NALSAR to strongly reconsider its choice of chief guest and said they were prepared to discuss the matter further through a meeting of student representatives or any other channel considered appropriate by the administration.
According to the students, no response to the representations has been received from the university so far.
Vice-Chancellor Srikrishna Deva Rao could not be reached for comment, while the university registrar was reported as saying that he had no knowledge of the representations.
The university has not yet finalised the date for the 2026-27 batch convocation.
