Archive · 19 Aug 2026
Bombay Bar Association Condemns BCI Chief’s Belated NALSAR Apology
The Bar Council of India first told state bar councils not to enrol NALSAR’s 2026 graduates as advocates.
It also asked NALSAR’s vice-chancellor to submit a report.
The BCI later cancelled the action against the students and closed the proceedings.
The Bombay Bar Association agreed that closing the case was the right step.
However, it strongly criticised BCI Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra for issuing the original directive.
It said the students were not given a chance to explain themselves.
The Association also said the order interfered with their right to protest and express their views.
It called Mishra’s later apology too late and said he should have resigned.
The dispute followed student opposition to inviting Chief Justice of India Surya Kant to NALSAR’s convocation.
The Bombay Bar Association condemned Manan Kumar Mishra’s August 13 directive targeting NALSAR’s 2026 graduating students.
The initial directive told state bar councils not to enrol the graduates and ordered an inquiry by NALSAR’s vice-chancellor.
The BCI later dropped action against the students and closed the proceedings altogether.
The Association called the directive an abuse of the BCI chairman’s office and said students were denied an opportunity to be heard.
It described Mishra’s August 15 apology as belated and said he should have resigned from the chairmanship.
- Who
- The Bombay Bar Association, BCI Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra, the Bar Council of India, and NALSAR’s 2026 graduating students.
- What
- The Association criticised the BCI’s initial directive against enrolling NALSAR graduates and called Mishra’s subsequent apology belated.
- When
- The disputed directive was issued on August 13, the proceedings were closed on August 14, and Mishra apologised on August 15, 2026.
- Where
- The dispute involved NALSAR University of Law in Hyderabad and the Bar Council of India; the criticism was issued by the Bombay Bar Association.
- Why
- The controversy followed opposition by some NALSAR students to inviting Chief Justice of India Surya Kant to the university’s convocation.
Bombay Bar Association’s Criticism
BCI’s Subsequent Actions
Original directive
Bombay Bar Association’s Criticism
The Association said the August 13 communication was an abuse of the BCI chairman’s office, uncalled for, and issued without giving students an opportunity to be heard.
BCI’s Subsequent Actions
The BCI initially directed state bar councils not to enrol NALSAR’s 2026 graduates and ordered an inquiry through the university’s vice-chancellor.
Ending the case
Bombay Bar Association’s Criticism
The Association supported the BCI’s decision to close the proceedings, calling it a step in the right direction that restored faith in the institution.
BCI’s Subsequent Actions
The BCI announced that proceedings against the students had been closed and that no further action was required.
Mishra’s apology
Bombay Bar Association’s Criticism
The Association called the August 15 apology clearly belated and said it did not demonstrate true remorse while Mishra remained chairman.
BCI’s Subsequent Actions
Mishra issued an apology after the BCI closed the proceedings; the articles do not provide a separate detailed explanation of his position.
- Initial BCI directive
- State Bar Councils were told not to enrol members of NALSAR’s 2026 graduating batch as advocates.
- Additional action
- NALSAR’s vice-chancellor was directed to submit a report for an inquiry.
- Proceedings status
- The BCI later announced that proceedings against the students had been closed altogether.
- Association’s assessment
- The Bombay Bar Association called the August 13 communication an abuse of the BCI chairman’s office.
- Apology date
- Mishra issued a letter described as an apology on August 15, 2026.
- Resignation demand
- The Association said Mishra ought to have resigned from the BCI chairmanship.
- Related dispute
- Some students opposed inviting Chief Justice of India Surya Kant to NALSAR’s convocation.
