450 NALSAR Students Oppose Inviting CJI Surya Kant to Hyderabad Convocation

Around 450 students from the 2026 graduating batch at NALSAR University of Law in Hyderabad have written to university authorities, opposing a proposal to invite Chief Justice of India Surya Kant as the chief guest for the institution's upcoming convocation ceremony. In an email sent on July 23, the students addressed the Vice-Chancellor, Registrar, and professors, requesting that the varsity management strongly reconsider its choice and consult the student body before extending any formal invitation or communicating a final decision.

The students stated that their objections arose following a Supreme Court hearing led by Chief Justice Surya Kant concerning alleged police violence against peaceful protesters during the 'Chalo Sansad' demonstration at Jantar Mantar on July 20. The Supreme Court bench had refused an urgent listing of a plea filed over the alleged brutal police action. Furthermore, the bench declined to view video evidence offered by the lead counsel representing the petitioners.

Highlighting the specific remarks made during the court proceedings, the law students pointed out that the Chief Justice reportedly stated the bench was not interested in watching videos when counsel offered to present recorded evidence of the alleged police excesses during the protest.

In their email representation, the graduating students stated that their concerns were specific to their standing as law graduates reflecting on the values of their institution. They wrote that a convocation ceremony is meant to be a moment where the university's commitment to constitutional rights, access to justice, and reasoned engagement with grievances are visibly reflected in the choices it makes.

The students expressed that receiving their law degrees from a dignitary whose public conduct, as reported, appeared dismissive of serious allegations of police brutality against protesting citizens sits uncomfortably with what they were taught to value during their education at NALSAR. They noted that they were bringing up the issue before any formal decision was finalized so their perspectives could be taken into account in time.

The protest march to Parliament on July 20 had been called by the Cockroach Janta Party. Demonstrators at the event had gathered to raise demands regarding the conduct of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) examination and to urge systemic reforms within the National Testing Agency.

As of Sunday, students reported that they had not received any reply from the NALSAR administration regarding their email. University officials also did not offer an immediate response when comments were sought on the matter.