A group of NUJS alumni has written to Chief Justice of India, DY Chandrachud, highlighting the absence of convocation ceremonies for the last four graduating batches. According to the letter, the most recent convocation held on October 30, 2022, for the 2019 and 2020 batches, while the one before that was conducted in February 2019. The alumni expressed concerns over the delay and urged for the timely organization of ceremonies to honour the achievements of the graduating students.
Alumni from the 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 batches of the West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (WBNUJS) have written to Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud, who is also the Chancellor of the university, urging for their convocation ceremony to be scheduled promptly.
In the letter, the alumni note that the last convocation held on October 30, 2022, for the 2019 and 2020 batches, with the prior one occurring in February 2019.
Read Also: CJI Emphasizes Preservation of Ancient Manuscripts
The letter states,
“Since then, there have been no formal convocation ceremonies for the subsequent batches. This delay has caused concern among the graduates, as convocation is a significant milestone that marks the culmination of years of hard work and dedication,”
Professor (Dr.) Nirmal Kanti Chakrabarti, Vice Chancellor of WBNUJS, mentioned that a request has been made to the Chief Justice of India’s (CJI) office to organize the convocation ceremony, but a date is yet to be finalized.
The Vice Chancellor stressed the significance of the Chancellor’s presence, as their signature is essential for awarding degrees to the graduates.
The letter highlights that convocation ceremonies at other National Law Universities, such as NLSIU, NALSAR, NLU Delhi, NLIU Bhopal, and NLU Jodhpur, conducted regularly and without unnecessary delays.
In light of this, the alumni urged the CJI’s office to expedite the process and facilitate the convocation for the graduating batches from 2021 to 2024.
Read Also: CJI Underlines “Constitutional Morality, Diversity, & Technology” in the Judiciary
The alumni stressed the critical need for timely convocation ceremonies, not only for the formal conferral of degrees but also for the symbolic importance it holds in marking the completion of their legal education. Many graduates are now pursuing further studies, professional careers, or international opportunities, and the absence of a formal degree has placed several of them at a disadvantage in terms of employment and academic prospects.
Given the importance of the convocation and the growing sense of urgency, the alumni have urged CJI Chandrachud to prioritize the matter and facilitate the long-pending convocation ceremony for the graduates from the 2021 to 2024 batches. They hope that swift action will be taken to address the issue, ensuring that no further delays impact the graduates’ academic and professional journeys.