CJI Rebukes Bar Council of India Over Attempted Ban on NALSAR Students

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant has criticized the Bar Council of India (BCI) for a directive that sought to prevent graduating students from NALSAR University of Law in Hyderabad from enrolling as advocates. The directive was issued by BCI Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra after some students campaigned against inviting the CJI to their convocation. During a court mention on Friday, CJI Surya Kant called the action absolutely uncalled for and stated that students have a right to protest even if they are wrong. He questioned the BCI's authority to interfere in what he described as a dialogue between himself and the students.

The BCI withdrew the directive within hours of its issuance on Thursday. Reports indicate that the decision was made by Chairman Mishra without consulting his colleagues. Several BCI office bearers expressed shock or opposition to the order, and the BCI later clarified that the initial letter was the decision of the Chairman rather than a collective council decision. NALSAR Vice Chancellor Srikrishna Deva Rao also refused to immediately implement the BCI's request for an inquiry into the students, calling the directive potentially unconstitutional.

Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra is a Senior Advocate and a BJP nominated member of the Rajya Sabha. He has faced allegations of arbitrary decision making during his tenure as BCI chief. The Cockroach Janta Party, a political campaign that had previously protested the CJI's remarks, warned of further demonstrations if the ban was not lifted. The court has since directed that no punitive action be taken against the students or faculty and has issued a notice to the BCI for a formal response.

Outlets with a center lean focused on the internal dysfunction of the BCI and the political background of Chairman Mishra. A left leaning outlet emphasized the students' right to protest and the specific context of the CJI's previous comments regarding police force against protesters.