In a dramatic turn of events, law graduates from two of India’s top universities—Nalsar in Hyderabad and National Law School of India (NLSIU) in Bengaluru—have demanded that Chief Justice Surya Kant not be the chief guest at their forthcoming graduations. These students cite the Chief Justice’s comments about youth that were reportedly slammed as “cockroaches” and “parasites” as the main why.
On 23 July, a group of Nalsar’s 1,400 senior students drafted an email to the university’s authorities urging the cancellation of an invitation to the Chief Justice. The plea was signed by about 450 students and many junior voices, backed by a growing sentiment that the Chief Justice’s dismissive attitude was incompatible with the seriousness of their case.
The controversy could be traced back to a July 20 incident when the Chief Justice reportedly declined to hear urgent hearings on police brutality during a student protest that escalated into a violent crackdown in Delhi. The figure’s comment that “the court is too busy” was dissected by opposition legislators, lawyers and the media, and the comment was echoed by many young students.
Backtracking: The Chief Justice publicly responded that he had only asked for proper petition filing, but the backlash left a lasting hurt. Further tension was added when the Bar Council of India’s chairman threatened to deny new graduates from Nalsar enrolment in the profession unless the Council distances itself from the lawsuit.
Amid the rising debate over "respect for the rule of law," NLSIU students issued an open letter denouncing the Bar Council’s threat and pledging not to invite the Chief Justice to their own convocation. The back-and-forth has ignited a broader national conversation about the relationship between law students and the judiciary, and how public comments can ripple through multiple institutions.
For the students, the issue is more than a personal slight; it touches policy, social status, and the future of an industry that has traditionally revered the Supreme Court and its chief. Whether that respect can be restored remains to be seen.
