TISS Convocation Guest List Takes a Turn: Tata Memorial Director Replaces CJI Surya Kant as Chief Guest

The Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) has announced a change in the chief guest for its upcoming 86th convocation, with Tata Memorial Hospital Director Dr C S Pramesh set to attend the ceremony instead of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant.

The convocation is now scheduled to take place on August 22 at the TISS campus.

The development follows the institute’s decision to postpone the original ceremony, which had been scheduled for August 2 and was expected to feature CJI Surya Kant as the chief guest and convocation speaker.

Why Was the Original Convocation Postponed?

TISS announced the postponement just two days before the August 2 ceremony.

At the time, the institute said the event could not be conducted in a “conducive environment” because of “unforeseen circumstances.”

The institution did not publicly provide detailed reasons for the decision.

However, according to a report by The Indian Express, students and officials had raised concerns about the possibility of protests and the security arrangements that would have been required for the CJI’s visit.

TISS said the decision was taken after considering the potential impact of the event on students, faculty members, staff, dignitaries, guests and routine campus activities.

The postponement came as a disappointment to several graduating students and their families, particularly those who had already made arrangements for the original date.

Some students had reportedly booked travel and accommodation for the August 2 ceremony, making the last-minute change especially inconvenient.

Dr C S Pramesh Named New Chief Guest

For the rescheduled ceremony, TISS has now invited Dr C S Pramesh, director of Tata Memorial Hospital, as the chief guest.

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Pramesh is a noted cancer surgeon and has been associated with the Tata Memorial Centre, one of India’s prominent institutions for cancer treatment, research and education.

His appointment marks a significant change from the original plan, which would have brought the country’s Chief Justice to the TISS campus for the convocation address.

The revised invitation reportedly lists Pramesh as the chief guest for the August 22 ceremony.

Students Were Left Dealing With the Fallout

The postponement of the original ceremony generated concern among graduating students, particularly because the announcement came so close to the scheduled event.

For students who had already made travel and accommodation bookings, changing the date was not simply an administrative inconvenience.

Following the backlash, TISS announced that financial assistance would be provided to affected students on a case-by-case basis.

The move was intended to help students who incurred expenses because of the sudden postponement.

August 22 Convocation Now Set

With the new arrangements in place, TISS’s 86th convocation will now be held on August 22 at the institute’s campus.

The change in chief guest brings an unusual episode surrounding this year’s ceremony to a close, at least for now.

What began as a planned convocation featuring CJI Surya Kant was postponed amid concerns about whether the event could be conducted in a suitable environment. It will now proceed later in the month with Dr C S Pramesh as the chief guest.

For the graduating batch, the priority will likely be much simpler: finally getting the opportunity to attend the ceremony and mark the completion of an important chapter in their academic journey.