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After the Bar Council of India (BCI) wrote to NALSAR University of Law’s Vice-Chancellor ordering an inquiry into why students opposed the invitation extended to Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant to attend the university’s convocation, Vice-Chancellor Srikrishna Deva Rao said the university would assess whether such an inquiry was permissible.
“We would have to assess whether such an inquiry was a constitutional exercise of their powers,” the VC said.
“In order to assist the University, assess whether conducting such an inquiry would be constitutional and permissible under the University’s governance regulations, the matter will be placed before the Executive Council of the University,” Srikrishna said. He added that once the Executive Council’s consultation was completed, the university would communicate its decision to the BCI.
The BCI on Thursday, August 13, wrote to NALSAR Vice-Chancellor Professor Srikrishna Deva Rao seeking an inquiry based on a report into what led students to protest against the invitation extended to CJI Surya Kant.
“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.
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.
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.