Students of the National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru, along with more than 120 alumni, have strongly condemned the now-withdrawn action taken by the Bar Council of India (BCI) against the 2026 graduating batch of NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad.
In a statement issued on Independence Day, the signatories demanded an “unconditional apology” from the BCI to the NALSAR student and faculty community and questioned the authority of the BCI Chairman to issue directions concerning the enrolment of the graduating students.
The statement has been signed by 128 NLSIU alumni, 165 students of the graduating class of 2026 and 409 current students from various programmes, including BALLB (Hons), LLB (Hons), LLM and MPP courses.
The NLSIU students and alumni have expressed strong disapproval of BCI Chairman and Senior Advocate Manan Kumar Mishra attending NLSIU's upcoming convocation unless he takes full responsibility for the BCI's actions against NALSAR students.
They have also called for reconsideration of the choice of Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant as Chief Guest at NALSAR's convocation.
At the same time, the signatories have expressed their disapproval of the CJI attending NLSIU's own upcoming convocation, citing the same concerns.
The controversy arose after a section of NALSAR's outgoing students opposed the proposed invitation to the CJI for their convocation, reportedly in the context of his earlier comments concerning student protests.
The NLSIU statement has called upon the BCI to explain the protocol governing the use of its official letterhead by the Chairperson.
The signatories have questioned the manner in which the BCI's August 13 communications were issued, particularly the initial direction concerning the enrolment of NALSAR's 2026 graduates.
The BCI subsequently withdrew the directions and closed the proceedings against the students.
However, the NLSIU students have argued that the withdrawal does not erase the broader concerns arising from the action.
The statement describes the BCI's withdrawn directive as unconstitutional and ultra vires the Advocates Act, 1961.
The students contend that although the Advocates Act empowers the BCI to lay down standards of professional conduct and promote legal education, it does not authorise the Council to arbitrarily direct State Bar Councils to suspend or prohibit the enrolment of otherwise qualified law graduates.
They have also referred to Section 24A of the Advocates Act, arguing that the provision identifies specific grounds of disqualification and does not contemplate denial of enrolment on the basis of alleged lack of respect for a judicial officer.
The statement further questions the BCI Chairman's authority to issue such directions unilaterally, referring to the composition of the BCI under Section 4 of the Act.
The NLSIU students have characterised the BCI's action as a serious infringement of the fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution.
They have particularly objected to the direction asking NALSAR to investigate and separately identify students and faculty members who participated in the representation against the proposed Chief Guest.
The statement describes the exercise as a “witch-hunt” and says that such action could have a chilling effect on free speech among law students across the country.
The signatories have also criticised the BCI Chairman's reported description of the students' expression as “dirty” and “nasty politics”, terming it an unacceptable threat to student expression.
The statement alleges a broader pattern of the BCI Chairman using the statutory body to make partisan political comments.
It refers to the BCI Chairman's earlier comments describing protesting students at Jantar Mantar as “anti-social and anti-national forces” allegedly influenced by “foreign adversaries”.
The NLSIU students have argued that the BCI should instead focus on issues concerning legal education, professional development and regulation of the legal profession.
The signatories concluded by expressing unconditional solidarity with the NALSAR students, praising their decision to voice their concerns and asserting the importance of students being able to speak according to their conscience and constitutional values without fear.
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