Archive · 14 Aug 2026
Bar Council Chief Calls NALSAR Student Order a Hasty U-Turn
In India, a group called the Bar Council of India makes rules for people who want to become lawyers.
The group told some law students from a university in Hyderabad that they could not become lawyers.
This happened because the students did not want the Chief Justice of India to be invited to their graduation ceremony.
Many people thought this punishment was too harsh and said it was unfair.
The leader of the group, Manan Kumar Mishra, admitted the decision was made too quickly.
The Bar Council changed its mind and took back the order within about 40 minutes.
Now the students are allowed to become lawyers at any State Bar Council they choose.
The leader said the matter is closed and there will be no more investigation.
Another leader, Asaduddin Owaisi, said students have every right to share their opinions.
Bar Council of India chairman Manan Kumar Mishra admitted the order against NALSAR's 2026-batch students was a 'hasty decision' and said the issue now stands closed.
The BCI withdrew its order barring NALSAR graduates from enrolling as advocates within about 40 minutes, after massive backlash over the move.
The initial order followed student protests against an invitation to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant for the university's convocation.
The modified notice said a 'vast majority' of students were innocent and that all students can enrol with State Bar Councils of their choice.
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi accused the BCI of trying to 'ban independent thinking in law universities,' while Mishra said Owaisi was politicising the issue.
- Who
- Bar Council of India chairman Manan Kumar Mishra, NALSAR law students, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, and Chief Justice of India Surya Kant
- What
- The BCI briefly barred NALSAR's 2026-batch students from enrolling as advocates, then withdrew the order after calling it a hasty decision
- When
- Thursday evening, with the withdrawal within 40 minutes; Mishra's clarification came on Friday
- Where
- India, involving Hyderabad-based NALSAR University of Law
- Why
- Students had protested the invitation of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant to their convocation; the BCI said it feared a clash between students and the judiciary
Critics (Students' Supporters)
Bar Council of India (BCI)
BCI order against NALSAR students
Critics (Students' Supporters)
Students have every right to object to the participation of a public figure at their university; threatening their careers aims to ban independent thinking and create a pliant academic culture (Asaduddin Owaisi).
Bar Council of India (BCI)
The order was a hasty decision made under pressure; the council realised it could lead to a clash between students and the judiciary and withdrew it within 40 minutes (Manan Kumar Mishra).
Politicisation of the issue
Critics (Students' Supporters)
The BCI's actions deserved criticism because students' careers were threatened over a legitimate protest against a public figure's participation.
Bar Council of India (BCI)
The issue now stands closed with no further inquiry, and Owaisi's remarks are an attempt to use the incident to play politics rather than focus on students' interests.
- Organisation
- Bar Council of India (BCI)
- BCI Chairman
- Manan Kumar Mishra
- University
- NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad
- Affected Students
- 2026 graduating batch of NALSAR
- Original Order
- Ban on enrolling NALSAR 2026-batch students as advocates
- Reason for Order
- Student protest against CJI Surya Kant's convocation invitation
- U-Turn
- Order withdrawn within 40 minutes on Thursday evening
- Current Status
- Issue closed; no further inquiry (per Mishra)