Bar Council Reverses Ban on NALSAR Enrolment
In a significant decision, the Bar Council of India (BCI), the apex regulatory body for the legal profession, has withdrawn its directive that halted the advocate enrolment process for the 2026 graduating class of NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad. This reversal comes after an initial ban sparked by a student protest.
The BCI announced its decision after a thorough discussion and review of a report, which concluded that the vast majority of the graduating cohort was not involved in the organized campaign opposing Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant's participation in the university's upcoming convocation. The Council stated, "All the students will be entitled to get enrolled with the State Bar Councils of their choice."
Roots of the Boycott Campaign
The controversy began when approximately 450 out of NALSAR's 1,400 students mounted a protest against inviting CJI Surya Kant to their convocation. The student campaign was reportedly triggered by oral observations made by the CJI during a court hearing related to alleged police excesses during the Delhi NEET protests. He was quoted as saying, “Please don't waste our time. We don't have time to watch these videos.”
Initial Directive and BCI's Stance
Reacting to the protest, BCI Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra had issued a stringent directive, ordering all state bar councils to pause the enrolment of any 2026 NALSAR graduate until further notice. The initial circular explicitly stated, "Till further orders, no student of NALSAR University of Law, who has obtained the Law Degree in the year 2026, shall be enrolled by any State Bar Council as an Advocate."
The BCI had previously asserted that law students displaying disrespect toward the highest judicial office would prove to be a "liability on the profession." The regulator also alleged that certain faculty members were engaged in "groupism and dirty politics" to mislead students, demanding a comprehensive factual report from NALSAR Vice-Chancellor Prof Srikrishna Deva Rao to identify those "principally instrumental" in organizing the campaign.
Inquiry and Full Clearance
Following the submission and review of the latest report, which established that the broader graduating class was not inclined to participate in the boycott, the Bar Council of India has completely lifted the ban. This decision allows the entire NALSAR batch of 2026 to proceed with their state bar council enrolments across the country without any further impediment, ensuring their professional future is not jeopardized by the actions of a minority.