Top Law College Invites Chief Justice Surya Kant To Convocation, Students React

Over 450 students at NALSAR University of Law in Hyderabad have reportedly voiced opposition to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant serving as the chief guest at the university's 2026 convocation ceremony. The students' concerns arise from remarks CJI Kant made during proceedings related to NEET protests in New Delhi, where he described protesters as "cockroaches" and dismissed video evidence of police excesses during the demonstrations.

According to India Today, the students argued that a convocation is a significant academic milestone and that the person chosen to confer degrees should exemplify the constitutional and academic values taught at the institution. They claimed that inviting the CJI to deliver the convocation address would conflict with principles of constitutional accountability, academic freedom, and sensitivity towards students.

The representation was submitted to the university's Vice-Chancellor, Registrar, professors, and other authorities. NALSAR has a long-standing tradition of inviting the CJI to the convocation, but the university had not yet confirmed the 2026 details, officially named Kant as the chief guest, or publicly addressed the students' concerns.

Saurav Das, the chief spokesperson of the "Cockroach Janta Party", commended the outgoing NALSAR batch for challenging the long-standing convention and highlighted the broader student mobilization around the NEET protests. The students' dissent has reignited discussions about the intersection of academic institutions, constitutional authorities, and student activism.