SC Backs NALSAR Students’ Right To Protest, Slams BCI Move To Withhold Their Enrolments

The Supreme Court on Friday took strong exception to a Bar Council of India ( BCI) circular that had directed state bar councils to withhold enrolment of NALSAR University of Law's 2026 batch, with Chief Justice of India Surya Kant declaring that the row was strictly "a dialogue between me and students" and that the BCI had no business interfering.

A bench comprising CJI Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana was responding to an urgent mention by Senior Advocate K Parameshwar, who argued the BCI had no locus in university affairs. "They have a right to protest. Who can stop them," the CJI remarked, adding that he himself had been active in student movements during his own college days and that even if the students were mistaken, protest remained their right. The bench issued notice to the BCI and directed that no punitive action be taken against NALSAR students or faculty, listing the matter for further hearing after two weeks.

The controversy traces back to a July 23 letter from NALSAR's graduating batch urging the university to reconsider inviting CJI Kant as chief guest for their convocation. The students cited his July 21 remarks in a Supreme Court hearing, where he reportedly said he did not have time to view video evidence of alleged police excesses against protesters at the Chalo Sansad march at Jantar Mantar on July 20. Framing their objection as respectful dissent rather than confrontation, the students argued it would be inconsistent with the university's values to receive degrees from a dignitary seen as dismissive of allegations of police brutality. Reports suggest similar unease has since affected at least two other university convocations involving the CJI in recent weeks.

Matters escalated on August 13, when BCI chairperson Manan Kumar Mishra issued a circular alleging "groupism and dirty politics" among NALSAR's academic staff and ordering a freeze on enrolments pending an inquiry, with a final call promised for August 19. The move triggered a swift backlash on social media, prompting the BCI to reverse course within hours, clarifying that the "vast majority" of students were innocent and should not be penalised for the alleged conduct of a few.

Appearing before the bench on Friday, counsel for the BCI confirmed the circular's withdrawal, even as the Supreme Court proceeded to place its concerns on record and keep the matter under judicial scrutiny.