The Law and Society Committee (LawSoc) of the National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru, has postponed the scheduled screening of the documentary Prisoner No. 626710 is Present, which focuses on the incarceration of Umar Khalid. The screening was originally scheduled for September 14, followed by a discussion on legal and constitutional issues.
LawSoc said the decision was taken because of “logistical and security considerations” and clarified that the event has not been cancelled. The student body said the screening will be organised later in the ongoing trimester after the necessary arrangements are put in place.
NLSIU Student Group Denies Bowing to Pressure
In its communication to students, LawSoc specifically denied that the postponement was a result of pressure from any individual or organisation. The committee said the decision was intended to ensure that the event could be conducted in a safe and responsible manner without compromising the wellbeing of the student community.
The clarification came after the proposed screening attracted opposition from the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), which had approached the NLSIU Vice-Chancellor seeking that the event not be permitted.
ABVP Opposes Screening at Law School
The ABVP, in a letter to the NLSIU Vice-Chancellor, objected to the proposed screening and argued that academic spaces should not be used for what it described as political or ideological propaganda. The organisation urged the university administration to deny permission for the event, citing concerns over political polarisation on campus.
The disagreement has placed the spotlight on the balance between academic discussion, freedom of expression and the maintenance of a non-polarised campus environment.
Documentary Screening Planned Around Constitutional Issues
According to LawSoc’s original communication, the event was intended to go beyond a documentary screening and facilitate discussion on questions connected with constitutional and criminal law.
The proposed discussion was expected to examine issues including pre-trial detention, bail, dissent, political incarceration and the relationship between criminal law and democratic freedoms. The event was also planned around Political Prisoners Day, observed on September 13.
The committee had also noted that September marks six years since Khalid’s imprisonment.
Prisoner No. 626710 is Present Focuses on Umar Khalid
The documentary, directed by filmmaker Lalit Vachani, examines Umar Khalid’s incarceration through archival material, speeches and accounts surrounding his arrest. The film’s official website describes it as a documentary centred on Khalid’s journey and the circumstances leading to his imprisonment.
The documentary has previously been screened at academic and cultural venues, including an NLSIU event organised by its Legal Services Clinic in November 2025.
Campus Debate Puts Academic Freedom in Focus
The controversy at NLSIU has brought broader questions surrounding academic freedom and student-led discussions back into focus. Universities routinely serve as spaces for debates on law, politics, constitutional rights and public policy, but such events can also generate disagreement when they involve politically contentious subjects.
At a law university in particular, debates concerning criminal law, constitutional rights, civil liberties and state power form part of the wider academic environment. The dispute over the screening therefore extends beyond the documentary itself to questions about how universities should handle contested viewpoints while ensuring campus safety.
Screening to Be Rescheduled
LawSoc has maintained that the event will take place during the current trimester after the required arrangements are completed. The committee has also invited students interested in constitutional rights, criminal law, civil liberties and institutional freedom to participate in the rescheduled discussion.
The next decision by the university and the organisers will be closely watched as NLSIU navigates the competing concerns of student safety, academic discussion and campus freedom.