The National Academy of Legal Studies and Research in Hyderabad has invited Chief Justice Surya Kant to be the chief guest at the upcoming convocation, the university’s vice-chancellor told The Indian Express.

The invitation was extended despite students urging the university to reconsider the decision, citing Kant’s response to a petition alleging that police had used excessive force against protesters in Delhi on July 20.

On July 22, a bench headed by the chief justice refused to urgently hear the petition. “Don’t waste our time and don’t waste your time,” Kant had reportedly told the petitioners.

When the lawyer for the petitioners said that he could present video evidence of the police excesses, the chief justice had said the bench was “not interested” in watching them.

Referring to the remarks, the students had told the university authorities that it did not sit right to receive their degrees from a dignitary whose recent public conduct appeared dismissive of serious allegations of police brutality against protesting citizens.

On Wednesday, the university’s vice-chancellor was quoted as saying by The Indian Express that they were awaiting a response from Kant to their invite.

While the date of the convocation is yet to be decided, it is usually held in August or September, added the vice-chancellor.

The incumbent chief justice has been delivering the convocation address at the university for several years.

Students’ representation to university

On July 23, 70 students from the outgoing batch of NALSAR sent a representation to the university authorities, The Indian Express reported. Over the next two days, about 380 more students from batches that will graduate over the next five years supported the demand to reconsider inviting Kant.

They had said that the convocation should reflect the university’s values, including “a commitment to constitutional rights, access to justice, and reasoned engagement with grievances”.

The police action on July 20 had come during protests against the alleged mismanagement of several competitive examinations. The agitation, which culminated in the resignation of Bharatiya Janata Party leader Dharmendra Pradhan as the Union education minister, was led by the Cockroach Janta Party political campaign.

The Cockroach Janta Party was launched in response to reports of remarks by Kant comparing some unemployed youngsters to “cockroaches”. The chief justice had claimed that he had been misquoted by sections of the media and that it was baseless to say that he criticised young people in general.

Edited by Sneha.

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