Archive · 5 Oct 2026
Justice Bhuyan Praises NALSAR Students After Convocation Row
Justice Ujjal Bhuyan spoke at a law competition at NALSAR University.
He praised the students, calling them brilliant, bold, and brave.
He also praised their teachers and the university’s vice-chancellor.
Weeks earlier, some graduating students had protested the proposed invitation of Chief Justice Surya Kant to their convocation.
The Bar Council of India briefly said graduates should not be enrolled as lawyers, but it withdrew that direction and later dropped its proceedings.
The Supreme Court said the Bar Council did not have legal authority to discipline law students and directed that no one be punished over the campaign.
In the same address, Bhuyan said a process disenfranchising millions of people would be unfair.
He did not identify the process or the authority involved.
Justice Ujjal Bhuyan called NALSAR students “brilliant, bold and brave” at a moot court competition.
He also praised the university’s faculty and Vice-Chancellor Srikrishna Deva Rao.
The remarks came weeks after graduating students protested the proposed participation of Chief Justice Surya Kant in their convocation.
The Bar Council of India briefly directed that NALSAR’s 2026 graduates not be enrolled, then withdrew the directive and dropped proceedings.
Bhuyan also said a process disenfranchising millions would be intrinsically arbitrary, without naming a specific process or authority.
- Who
- Supreme Court Justice Ujjal Bhuyan; NALSAR students, faculty and Vice-Chancellor Srikrishna Deva Rao.
- What
- Bhuyan praised NALSAR students and university staff during a moot court competition address.
- When
- Sunday; the article does not specify the date.
- Where
- NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad.
- Why
- Bhuyan was delivering the valedictory address at the 19th NALSAR-Justice BR Sawhney Memorial Moot Court Competition.
Students’ protest and legal protection
Bar Council’s initial response
Convocation campaign
Students’ protest and legal protection
A section of NALSAR’s graduating batch objected to the proposed invitation of Chief Justice Surya Kant as convocation chief guest.
Bar Council’s initial response
The BCI chairman initially directed state bar councils not to enrol graduates from NALSAR’s 2026 batch and asked the vice-chancellor for a report on people allegedly involved.
Authority to act
Students’ protest and legal protection
The Supreme Court directed that no punitive action be taken against students or faculty over the campaign and held the BCI lacked statutory authority to discipline law students.
Bar Council’s initial response
The BCI initially issued enrolment and inquiry directions, but withdrew the enrolment bar and later dropped proceedings.
- Speaker
- Justice Ujjal Bhuyan of the Supreme Court
- Event
- 19th NALSAR-Justice BR Sawhney Memorial Moot Court Competition
- University
- NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad
- Student praise
- Bhuyan described NALSAR students as “brilliant, bold and brave.”
- Convocation dispute
- Some graduating students objected to the proposed invitation of Chief Justice Surya Kant as convocation chief guest.
- Bar Council action
- The BCI withdrew its direction against enrolment of NALSAR’s 2026 graduates hours after issuing it, and later dropped proceedings.
- Supreme Court action
- The Supreme Court directed that no punitive action be taken over the campaign and held that the BCI lacked statutory authority to discipline law students.
- Voting remarks
- Bhuyan said a process disenfranchising millions would be intrinsically arbitrary, without naming a specific exercise or authority.
