NALSAR students urge university to reconsider CJI Surya Kant as convocation chief guest
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A group of graduating students at the National Academy of Legal Studies and Research (NALSAR), Hyderabad, has urged the university administration to reconsider its reported proposal to invite Chief Justice of India Surya Kant as the chief guest for the upcoming convocation.
In a representation to the Vice-Chancellor, Registrar and professors, the students said the convocation should reflect NALSAR's commitment to "constitutional rights, access to justice, and reasoned engagement with grievances."
The students' objection relates to the Supreme Court's reported refusal to urgently list a plea concerning police action against protesters during the "Chalo Sansad" demonstration at Jantar Mantar on July 20. The protest, organised by the Cockroach Janta Party, raised issues including the conduct of the NEET examination and the functioning of the National Testing Agency.
The students cited reports that when the matter was mentioned for urgent hearing on July 22, the CJI told counsel, "Don't waste our time, and don't waste your time." They also referred to reports that when counsel offered to show videos of police excesses, the CJI responded, "We are not interested in videos. We don't have time to watch."
The representation said counsel was also cut short while explaining the issues surrounding the protest.
The students referred to a separate petition addressed to the CJI seeking suo motu intervention over the police action. The petition cited injuries to more than 170 protesters, including women and children, and referred to safeguards established in DK Basu vs State of West Bengal.
"For us as a graduating batch," the students said, receiving degrees from a dignitary whose recent public conduct, "as reported, appears dismissive of serious allegations of police brutality against protesting citizens," was inconsistent with values they had been taught at NALSAR.
They asked the university to reconsider the proposed invitation, consult the graduating batch before formally extending it, and allow students to discuss the matter with the administration. They also requested a response, preferably by Monday.