Bengaluru: A section of students and alumni of the National Law School of India University (NLSIU) here have objected to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Bar Council of India (BCI) Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra attending the university’s forthcoming convocation, PTI reported.
In a statement issued on August 15, they criticised the BCI’s decision — since withdrawn — to prevent the enrolment of graduates from Hyderabad’s NALSAR University of Law as advocates. They also extended their “unconditional solidarity” to NALSAR students, crediting them with displaying “exemplary courage and moral conviction” while speaking out against those in positions of authority.
The statement was endorsed by 165 members of the graduating Class of 2026, 409 serving students and 128 alumni.
The signatories said the BCI’s subsequent withdrawal of the enrolment directive and closure of the proceedings did not lessen the seriousness of the original action. They said the council had no justification for initiating what they described as unconstitutional and unlawful proceedings against students and teachers of a public university.
“We are aware that the BCI has closed all proceedings against NALSAR. However, the fact that such unconstitutional and illegal “proceedings” can be initiated by a statutory body against students and faculty members of a public university in the first place does not alter the nature or the larger impact of such actions or dilute the responsibility of the Chairman and the BCI,” the statement said.
The students and alumni maintained that the BCI had itself conceded the “arbitrary” and “illegal nature” of its conduct after rescinding both the enrolment restriction and the inquiry order.
They said a convocation was an important milestone that celebrated students’ years of hard work. They added that graduating was a major achievement for students and their families, especially in a country where class, caste, gender and flawed entrance exams can limit access to higher education.
“In this context, inviting persons in high office to confer degrees to students towards whom they have publicly expressed their disdain and condescension is offensive, humiliating, and a mockery of students and their struggles,” it said.
The statement added: “We stand in unconditional solidarity with our fellow students at NALSAR who have shown exemplary courage and moral conviction in speaking truth to power.”
The NLSIU community called upon the BCI to issue an unconditional apology to NALSAR’s students and faculty. It said the council’s intervention had attempted to undermine their fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression.
They said the BCI’s actions could discourage free speech among NALSAR students and faculty, as well as students and citizens across the country, by suggesting that dissent could lead to serious personal and professional consequences.
The signatories also criticised Mishra’s proposed presence at the NLSIU convocation in the absence of any acknowledgment of responsibility for the BCI’s actions. They said they stood with NALSAR students in seeking a review of the decision to invite the CJI as chief guest and made clear their opposition to his attendance at the NLSIU ceremony.
“(We) express our strong disapproval of Mr Manan Kumar Mishra attending the convocation of NLSIU without taking responsibility for his conduct and stand in solidarity with NALSAR in their request to reconsider the choice of the Chief Justice of India as Chief Guest for their Convocation and express our strong disapproval of the CJI attending the convocation of NLSIU for the same reasons,” it stated.
The controversy followed objections raised by NALSAR students to a proposed visit by the CJI to their campus. On August 13, the BCI had instructed state bar councils not to enrol any graduate of NALSAR’s 2026 batch until further orders.
The directive triggered widespread criticism on social media and was withdrawn within hours.
The following day, during a hearing, CJI Surya Kant said, “It’s a dialogue between students and me,” while sharply questioning the BCI over its decision. A bench headed by him observed that students were entitled to protest.
According to them, a university convocation is a monumental event in a student’s academic life, meant to celebrate years of hard work and perseverance. In a country where access to higher education is severely restricted by barriers of class, caste and gender, and poorly designed and conducted entrance examinations, a convocation marks an important achievement for families.
“In this context, inviting persons in high office to confer degrees to students towards whom they have publicly expressed their disdain and condescension is offensive, humiliating, and a mockery of students and their struggles,” it said.
“We stand in unconditional solidarity with our fellow students at NALSAR who have shown exemplary courage and moral conviction in speaking truth to power.”
They have demanded that the Bar Council of India unconditionally apologise to the student and faculty community at NALSAR for attempting to infringe their fundamental right to free speech and expression.
It said BCI’s actions create a “chilling effect” on free speech not only for the students and faculty members at NALSAR but for students and citizens across the country by sending them a clear signal that an “act of dissent” will be met with severe personal and professional consequences.
“(We) express our strong disapproval of Mr Manan Kumar Mishra attending the convocation of NLSIU without taking responsibility for his conduct and stand in solidarity with NALSAR in their request to reconsider the choice of the Chief Justice of India as Chief Guest for their Convocation and express our strong disapproval of the CJI attending the convocation of NLSIU for the same reasons,” it stated.
On August 14, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant described the matter as “a dialogue between students and me” while questioning the Bar Council of India’s decision to block the enrolment of NALSAR University of Law’s 2026 graduates. The action followed protests by students against the CJI’s proposed visit to the Hyderabad campus.
The CJI-led bench said students could not be denied their right to protest. The observation came after the BCI directed state bar councils to defer the enrolment of all NALSAR graduates from the 2026 batch. Faced with strong criticism on social media, the council withdrew the directive within hours.