2 weeks ago
CJI Slams Bar Council's NALSAR Enrolment Suspension As 'Uncalled For'
NALSAR is a law school in Hyderabad, India, where students train to become lawyers.
Some graduating students did not want the Chief Justice of India, the country's top judge, to attend their graduation ceremony because he had refused an early hearing on a petition about a protest march in Delhi.
The Bar Council of India, the group that decides who can become a lawyer, told its state branches not to let these graduates become lawyers for now.
The Chief Justice said this was 'totally uncalled for,' because the issue is a dialogue between him and the students.
He said students have the right to protest peacefully and must be heard even if they are wrong.
Many lawyers said the Bar Council's decision was arbitrary, illegal and disproportionate.
Facing criticism, the Bar Council withdrew its order completely and closed the matter.
The Supreme Court said no student or teacher should be punished and issued a notice to the Bar Council.
The Chief Justice even offered to put the graduates to work on legal aid cases that help poor people.
The graduates can now get their licences and continue their careers.
The Bar Council of India (BCI) directed state bar councils to suspend enrolment of NALSAR University of Hyderabad's 2026 graduates pending an inquiry into a student campaign opposing Chief Justice Surya Kant's convocation participation.
Chief Justice Surya Kant called the BCI action 'totally uncalled for,' calling the matter a dialogue between him and the students and stressing that peaceful protests must be allowed.
BCI chairman Manan Kumar Mishra withdrew the order and closed the proceedings in the early hours of Friday after backlash and objections from senior advocates and bar members.
The Supreme Court issued notice to the BCI, barred punitive action against NALSAR students or faculty, and fixed the next hearing for September 3.
Students' opposition stemmed from the CJI's refusal of an early hearing on a petition seeking a probe into alleged police excesses during a 20 July Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest march in Delhi.
- Who
- Chief Justice of India Surya Kant (called 'Surya Kanta Mishra' in one article); BCI chairman Manan Kumar Mishra; NALSAR University of Hyderabad's 2026 graduates; alumni petitioners Mihira Sood and Abhishek Tewari; and a Supreme Court bench also comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana.
- What
- The BCI directed state bar councils to suspend enrolment of NALSAR's 2026 graduates pending an inquiry into the student campaign against the CJI's convocation participation; after backlash the order was withdrawn, and the Supreme Court issued notice on a petition challenging it while barring punitive action.
- Where
- India — NALSAR University of Hyderabad, with the Supreme Court hearing the matter in New Delhi.
- When
- The BCI order was issued this week — dated Wednesday in one article and Thursday in another — and was reversed within hours amid backlash, with the BCI chairman formally closing proceedings in the early hours of Friday; the next Supreme Court hearing is set for September 3.
- Why
- Students opposed the CJI's convocation participation because he refused an early hearing on a petition seeking a probe into alleged police excesses during a 20 July protest march by the Cockroach Janta Party in Delhi.
Critics of the BCI directive
Bar Council of India's stance
Suspending NALSAR graduates' enrolment
Critics of the BCI directive
CJI Surya Kant called the directive 'totally uncalled for,' saying the matter is a dialogue between him and the students; SCBA President Vikas Singh called it 'arbitrary, illegal and disproportionate,' and alumni petitioners described it as 'manifestly arbitrary' with no statutory foundation beyond Section 24-A of the Advocates Act, 1961.
Bar Council of India's stance
BCI chairman Manan Kumar Mishra issued a six-page order suspending enrolment pending an inquiry into the student campaign, but withdrew the order and closed the proceedings after objections from senior advocates and bar members.
Students' campaign against the Chief Justice
Critics of the BCI directive
The Chief Justice said students have the right to protest and must be heard even if they are wrong, and he offered to empanel the graduates for legal aid work once they enrol.
Bar Council of India's stance
Manan Mishra said dissent is welcome in a democracy but public ridicule of constitutional institutions is often counterproductive, urging students to voice opinions freely but with respect and institutional decorum.
BCI's jurisdiction over university affairs
Critics of the BCI directive
The petition argued the directive exceeded BCI's powers under the Advocates Act, 1961 and violated Fundamental Rights; BCI Vice-President Ved Prakash Sharma and Kerala representative N. Manoj Kumar said the protest was a disciplinary matter for the university alone and the BCI had no jurisdiction.
Bar Council of India's stance
The BCI chairman initially acted as head of the legal profession's apex regulator in ordering the inquiry, before the council modified and then fully withdrew the directive.
Key facts
- Regulator
- Bar Council of India (BCI)
- Affected institution
- NALSAR University of Hyderabad (National Academy of Legal Studies and Research University of Law)
- Directive
- State bar councils told to suspend enrolment of 2026 NALSAR graduates pending inquiry
- Order status
- Withdrawn by BCI chairman Manan Kumar Mishra; proceedings closed
- Reason for students' campaign
- CJI's refusal of an early hearing on alleged police excesses during a 20 July Cockroach Janta Party march in Delhi
- Protesting students
- About 450 outgoing NALSAR students reportedly emailed the Vice-Chancellor
- Petitioners
- Mihira Sood (2007 alumna) and Abhishek Tewari (2004 alumnus)
- Supreme Court action
- Notice issued; no punitive action against students or faculty; next hearing September 3
Quotes
Chief Justice Surya Kanta Mishra
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of India
“"BCI is unnecessarily taking action. They have the right to protest. Students might have written a letter to me. It’s a dialogue between students and me. Who are they (BCI) to unnecessarily raise an issue? This is totally uncalled for. BCI has nothing to do with this?"”
theprint.in
thehansindia.com
thehansindia.com
“If the students have a cause to protest, let them protest. They have a right to protest… This (the BCI action) is totally unacceptable and uncalled for. BCI has nothing to do with this.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
Don't interfere: CJI Kant to Bar Council over 'punitive' move against NALSAR students
‘Who are they to act?’ CJI seeks BCI response on now-reversed order to suspend enrolment of NALSAR grads
It’s between me and students
"This Is Between Students And Me": Chief Justice On Bar Council's Order
Supreme Court shields NALSAR students, halts BCI action
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