Follow TNM's WhatsApp channel for news updates and story links.
Less than a week after students of Hyderabad’s National Academy of Legal Studies and Research (NALSAR) University of Law opposed the presence of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant at their annual convocation, the Bar Council of India (BCI) directed state bar councils not to enrol any students from NALSAR’s 2026 graduating batch as advocates.
However, within a couple of hours of issuing the directive, the BCI issued a second letter to NALSAR Vice-Chancellor Professor Srikrishna Deva Rao and all state bar councils, rescinding its earlier order. The BCI said it would, however, proceed with an inquiry based on a report from the NALSAR Vice-Chancellor before deciding whether to take action against students found responsible.
“The vast majority of the students of NALSAR (2026 pass-out students) are innocent and were not inclined to take part in the move of disrespect... It has further been reported by some reliable sources that a handful of teachers and outsiders were instrumental in instigating the innocent students,” BCI Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra said in the second letter.
Manan Kumar Mishra is a Rajya Sabha member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Following Manan Kumar Mishra’s statement initial statement, Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) co convenor Saurav Das warned that if the order was not rescinded “all law students, advocates, senior lawyers, and well-meaning young cockroaches will protest outside Bar Council’s office and Mishra’s official residence, and their respective states.”
Senior lawyer Sanjay Hegde also opposed the BCI statement. “It is an absolute abuse of power and much beyond the jurisdiction of the BCI. There can be no pre-emptory action against or collective punishment against a graduating batch of students.”
Student groups including Akhila Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) also opposed the BCI's decision. "ABVP does not agree with such an approach. Institutions like the BCI must refrain from issuing such arbitrary directions and ensure that every decision is based on facts, due process, a fair inquiry, and justice."
Why did NALSAR students oppose the invitation to CJI Surya Kant?
Around 450 students at NALSAR had opposed the invitation to CJI Surya Kant to attend the university’s convocation, citing his remarks in July regarding police excesses during student protests.
Several students across the country had been protesting irregularities in the NEET-UG examination, including reports of paper leaks and student suicides. The protests eventually led to the resignation of then Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
During protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, students were beaten by Delhi Police personnel. The CJI had declined to hear a petition concerning alleged police brutality against the protesting students, reportedly saying, “Don’t waste our time. We are not interested in videos, we don’t have time to watch.”
The remarks prompted students from NALSAR’s 2026 graduating batch to oppose the CJI’s invitation to the university’s convocation.
While inviting the Chief Justice of India is not an official protocol, it has become customary for the CJI to be invited to NALSAR’s convocations.