NALSAR students petition to bar Chief Justice Surya Kant from convocation
Students at NALSAR in Hyderabad have asked the university to drop Chief Justice Surya Kant as convocation chief guest, citing his recent remarks on a police-excess case.
Students from several cohorts at the National Academy of Legal Studies and Research in Hyderabad have collectively written to the university leadership, requesting that Chief Justice of India Surya Kant not be invited as the chief guest for the upcoming convocation. Their objection centers on remarks he allegedly made in a recent hearing concerning alleged police excesses against Jantar Mantar demonstrators, including dismissing video evidence and urging counsel not to waste time.
Each of the six letters carries signatures from roughly 70 to 80 students, amounting to an estimated 350-450 signatories. The university’s vice-chancellor, Srikrishna Deva Rao, and registrar have not provided a response, and the registrar claims no knowledge of the petitions. Students assert that honoring a figure whose public conduct appears to undermine constitutional rights would contradict the values emphasized in their legal education. They have offered to discuss the matter further through meetings or other channels the university deems appropriate.
Why it matters
The protest highlights tension between legal institutions and student expectations of constitutional accountability.
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