NALSAR row: Protest, enrolment ‘freeze’, CJI’s rap and BCI apology explained

The controversy between the Bar Council of India (BCI) and NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad, has intensified in recent weeks after the BCI briefly froze the enrolment of the university’s entire 2026 graduating batch. The decision was withdrawn within hours following widespread backlash, but the dispute continued after Chief Justice of India Surya Kant criticised the BCI’s intervention.

On Saturday, BCI chairman Manan Kumar Mishra apologised to NALSAR students, saying he sincerely regretted if anything related to the controversy, including his words or letter, had hurt their feelings.

Here is how the NALSAR-BCI-CJI row unfolded:

Students oppose CJI Surya Kant’s participation in convocation

The controversy began when a group of NALSAR students objected to CJI Surya Kant being invited as chief guest at the university’s convocation.

The first representation was submitted on July 23 by 70 students from the outgoing LLB batch. Students from other batches later expressed support for their concerns.

In their communication to university officials, the students referred to the Supreme Court bench headed by CJI Kant declining to hear a plea concerning alleged police action against students during the July 20 ‘Chalo Sansad’ march at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.

The students argued that a convocation should reflect the university’s commitment to constitutional rights, access to justice and engagement with grievances.

BCI freezes NALSAR graduates’ enrolment

The controversy escalated when BCI chairman Manan Kumar Mishra directed all State Bar Councils not to enrol any 2026 NALSAR law graduate as an advocate until further orders.

The BCI also sought an authenticated report from NALSAR identifying students who had initiated, organised or coordinated the campaign against the CJI’s proposed participation in the convocation.

The Council sought details about representations, signatories, meetings, social media groups, media interactions and any calls for a boycott or disruption. It also asked whether faculty members, research scholars, alumni, student organisations or outsiders were involved.

The BCI said the temporary freeze was necessary to prevent the enrolment process from interfering with its inquiry.

Order withdrawn after backlash

The enrolment freeze was withdrawn within hours amid a backlash.

A revised notification said the “vast majority” of students were innocent and should not be held responsible for alleged misconduct by a few.

The controversy also drew a protest threat from Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke.

CJI Surya Kant criticises BCI

On Friday, CJI Surya Kant strongly criticised the BCI’s intervention, saying the Council had no business interfering with students’ right to protest.

The Chief Justice said students could not be prevented from raising their concerns through lawful and peaceful protests. He also restrained the BCI and State Bar Councils from pursuing punitive or criminal action against students and faculty in connection with the controversy.

“If students have a cause or a reason to protest, they have a right to protest. Nobody can stop them, and we will not allow this,” the CJI said after senior advocate K Parameshwar raised the matter before the bench.

BCI chairman apologises

Following the CJI’s remarks, Mishra apologised to the students on Saturday.

In a letter addressed to his “dear young friends”, the BCI chairman acknowledged that the developments had caused concern and anguish among some students. He said students’ concerns should be heard with “patience, sensitivity and respect”.

“If anything connected with the present controversy, any of my words, or letter, has hurt the feelings of our law students, I sincerely regret and apologise for the same,” Mishra said.

He added that expressing regret was not a matter of prestige or ego, but an acknowledgement that the feelings and concerns of students matter.