2 weeks ago

NALSAR row puts Bar Council of India in focus

NALSAR row puts Bar Council of India in focus
Knowledge Nugget | NALSAR row puts Bar Council of India in focus: Key questions to answer about the legal body · indianexpress.com

There is a group in India called the Bar Council of India that helps make rules for lawyers and law schools.

Some law students at a university called NALSAR were unhappy that the Chief Justice of India was invited to their graduation ceremony.

The Bar Council got upset too and told the state bar councils not to let these students become lawyers.

But just a few hours later, the Bar Council changed its mind and took back the order.

The Bar Council was created by a law called the Advocates Act in the year 1961.

That law also created state bar councils, and they are the ones who actually sign up new lawyers.

Even though the Bar Council makes big rules, it cannot enroll lawyers by itself.

In 2023, the Bar Council allowed lawyers from other countries to work in India, but they cannot go to Indian courts or practice Indian law.

Key facts

Event
BCI directed state bar councils not to enrol NALSAR University of Law 2026 batch graduates
Reason
Students' protest against the convocation invitation to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant
Order status
Withdrawn within hours; proceedings closed
Legal basis
Advocates Act, 1961 (State Bar Councils under Section 3; BCI under Section 4)
BCI Chairman
Manan Kumar Mishra
Enrolment authority
State Bar Councils (Section 6); BCI opinion binding on rejections under Section 26(3)
Tenure
State council members elected for 5 years; BCI Chairman and Vice-Chairman for 2 years
Foreign lawyers
Allowed to practise in India since March 2023, but cannot appear in court or practise Indian law

Sources

Related news