2 weeks ago
BCI chief apologises to law students over NALSAR convocation row
Some law students in India were unhappy about their graduation ceremony, which is called a convocation.
About 450 students at a law school called NALSAR did not want the Chief Justice of India, Surya Kant, to be the special guest at their ceremony.
The Bar Council of India, the group that watches over lawyers, told the students they could not sign up to become lawyers because of this protest.
Many students, lawyers and even members inside the Bar Council thought that was unfair.
The Bar Council changed its mind just a few hours later and eventually closed all its inquiries.
The Chief Justice said the matter was a conversation between him and the students, and the Supreme Court said students have a right to protest peacefully.
The Bar Council's chairperson, Manan Kumar Mishra, then wrote a letter on Independence Day and sincerely apologised to the students.
He said peaceful protest and asking questions are important in a democracy, and that students should always be free to express their views.
He said no student should be forced to go to the ceremony or forced to stay away; the choice is their own.
He also urged that the issue should be settled through respectful talk and should not become a political fight.
BCI chairperson Manan Kumar Mishra apologised to law students in an Independence Day (August 15) letter over the NALSAR convocation row.
The BCI on August 13 directed State Bar Councils to withhold enrolment for NALSAR's 2026 graduating batch after about 450 students objected to CJI Surya Kant as convocation chief guest.
The BCI withdrew the halt within hours amid criticism from the legal fraternity and later closed all proceedings against the batch.
The Supreme Court issued notice to the BCI on a challenge to its directives, with CJI Surya Kant calling the matter 'a dialogue between students and me' and affirming peaceful protest rights.
Mishra said no student should be compelled to attend or abstain from the convocation and urged that the issue not acquire a political colour.
- Who
- Bar Council of India chairperson Manan Kumar Mishra; law students of NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad, and National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru; Chief Justice of India Surya Kant; NALSAR Vice-Chancellor Prof Srikrishna Deva Rao; and the Supreme Court of India.
- What
- Mishra apologised after the BCI briefly ordered State Bar Councils to withhold enrolment of NALSAR's 2026 graduating batch because students objected to CJI Surya Kant as chief guest at their convocation; the order was withdrawn, all proceedings were closed, and the Supreme Court issued notice on a challenge to the directives.
- Where
- India — NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad; NLSIU, Bengaluru; and the Supreme Court of India.
- When
- The apology letter was issued on Independence Day (Saturday, August 15); the BCI's halt order came on August 13 and was reversed within hours; the Supreme Court issued notice after hearing the challenge on Friday.
- Why
- Around 450 NALSAR students objected to CJI Surya Kant's participation as chief guest at the university's 2026 convocation; the BCI's directive drew widespread criticism as an overreach of authority, prompting its withdrawal, the closure of all proceedings, and the apology.
Students and Legal Fraternity
Bar Council of India Leadership
Halting enrolment of NALSAR's 2026 batch
Students and Legal Fraternity
NALSAR's Student Bar Council and NLSIU students said the halt was arbitrary, coercive and ultra vires the Advocates Act, and that the chairman lacked authority to issue such directions unilaterally.
Bar Council of India Leadership
The BCI ordered the halt over the students' protest but withdrew it within hours; Mishra later admitted the matter had been handled in haste and the council closed all proceedings against the batch.
CJI's presence at convocations
Students and Legal Fraternity
Around 450 NALSAR students objected to CJI Surya Kant as chief guest, and NLSIU students rejected the presence of both the BCI chairperson and the CJI at their own convocation, saying peaceful criticism of public institutions falls within democratic scrutiny.
Bar Council of India Leadership
Mishra said the decision to attend or abstain rests with students, with no compulsion either way, and urged the issue not acquire a political colour; CJI Surya Kant called the matter 'a dialogue between students and me'.
The apology and the inquiry
Students and Legal Fraternity
NALSAR's Student Bar Council and NLSIU students and alumni demanded an unconditional public apology and described the demand to identify students and faculty involved as a 'witch-hunt'.
Bar Council of India Leadership
Mishra issued an apology, saying he sincerely regretted and apologised if his words or letter hurt students' feelings and that regret is not a matter of prestige or ego; he closed all proceedings, noting the batch had no role in any disturbance.
Key facts
- BCI chairperson
- Manan Kumar Mishra, also a BJP Rajya Sabha MP
- Apology
- Issued in an Independence Day (August 15) three-page letter to law students
- Enrolment halt
- Ordered on August 13 for NALSAR's 2026 graduating batch; withdrawn within hours
- Disputed event
- NALSAR University of Law's 2026 convocation
- Disputed chief guest
- Chief Justice of India Surya Kant
- Protesting students
- About 450 NALSAR students
- Supreme Court status
- Notice issued to BCI; no punitive action against NALSAR students or faculty while pending
- NLSIU support
- More than 700 NLSIU Bengaluru students and alumni voiced support for NALSAR students
Quotes
Manan Kumar Mishra
BCI chairman and BJP Rajya Sabha member
“"The Bar Council of India regards law students as the future of the legal profession. Their dignity, independence of thought and legitimate concerns must always be respected. At the same time, dialogue, mutual respect and constitutional values are equally important for the health of the profession they are preparing to enter."”
thestatesman.com
“'If anything connected with the present controversy, any of my words, or letter, has hurt the feelings of our law students, I sincerely regret and apologise for the same. There should be no hesitation in saying so.'”
wionews.com
rediff.com
thehansindia.com
businesstoday.in
indianexpress.com
+2 more
Sources
NALSAR row: BCI chairman Mishra apologises after backlash over advocate registration order
BCI chairperson Manan Kumar Mishra apologises to law students after NALSAR convocation row
BCI chief apologises for letter banning NALSAR graduates
BCI chief apologises to NALSAR students
NALSAR convocation row: Bar Council chief MK Misra apologises to law students
BCI chief regrets NALSAR enrolment bar order, apologises to law students
‘Sincerely regret’: Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra apologises to NALSAR students over enrolment ban controversy
NALSAR Row: BCI Chief Apologises to Students Over Enrolment Directive
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