Archive · 18 Aug 2026
TISS Reschedules Convocation, Names New Chief Guest After Protest Fears
A big university in Mumbai called TISS was getting ready for a special celebration called a convocation.
The Chief Justice of India, the country's top judge, was invited to be the guest of honour.
But just two days before the event, the university suddenly cancelled it without saying why.
People later said the university was worried some students might protest because the judge was coming.
Now the ceremony has a new date and a different special guest.
Some law students at another university in Hyderabad also did not want this judge at their ceremony.
The judge said students have the right to protest.
A group called the Bar Council made a rule against those students, but later took it back and said sorry.
So the story is about listening to students and making sure big ceremonies happen peacefully.
TISS postponed its 86th convocation, originally scheduled for August 2, without an official reason just two days before the event.
The convocation will now be held on August 22, with Tata Memorial Hospital Director Dr CS Pramesh as the new chief guest.
Sources and institute officials said the postponement stemmed from security concerns and intelligence inputs about potential student protests against Chief Justice Surya Kant.
Around 450 students at Hyderabad's NALSAR University of Law had separately objected to the CJI being their convocation chief guest.
After the CJI defended students' right to protest, Bar Council of India Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra withdrew the BCI's order against NALSAR students and apologised.
- Who
- Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Dr CS Pramesh of Tata Memorial Hospital, students at NALSAR University of Law, and Bar Council of India Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra.
- What
- TISS's 86th convocation was postponed amid fears of student protests and has been rescheduled for August 22 with a new chief guest.
- When
- The convocation was originally scheduled for August 2; cancellation was announced late on July 31, and the new date is August 22.
- Where
- Mumbai, where TISS is located, and Hyderabad, where NALSAR University of Law students protested.
- Why
- Campus security concerns and intelligence inputs warned of potential student protests against Chief Justice Surya Kant, who was originally the chief guest.
Students' Right to Protest
Institute Security Concerns
CJI as convocation chief guest
Students' Right to Protest
Students at TISS and NALSAR University of Law objected to Chief Justice Surya Kant being chief guest, and the CJI said students have a right to protest.
Institute Security Concerns
Intelligence inputs and campus security concerns over potential protests prompted TISS to postpone the convocation and choose a different chief guest.
- Institute
- Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai
- Event
- 86th Convocation
- Original date
- August 2
- New date
- August 22
- Original chief guest
- Chief Justice of India Surya Kant
- New chief guest
- Dr CS Pramesh, Director, Tata Memorial Hospital
- Reported reason for postponement
- Security concerns and intelligence inputs about potential student protests
- Related protest
- Around 450 students at NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad, opposed the CJI as chief guest