New Delhi: Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, on Friday, slammed the Bar Council of India (BCI) for its now-withdrawn circular banning enrolment of 2026 batch graduates of NALSAR University of Law as advocates over alleged campus opposition to CJI Kant’s proposed participation in the convocation.
“Who are they to interfere,” the CJI remarked, while seeking a response from the BCI on its circulars and directing no punitive action be taken against NALSAR students and faculty, as reported by The Telegraph Online.
The BCI circular that has now been withdrawn has directed all state bar councils not to enrol any 2026 batch graduate of NALSAR University of Law as advocates.
The bench of CJI Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana observed that the BCI has nothing to do in the matter as it was a dialogue between the CJI and the students.
“They [students] have a right to protest. Who can stop them,” CJI Kant said.
“It’s a dialogue between me and students. Who are they [BCI] to interfere,” he added after a plea challenging the BCI circular was mentioned for urgent listing.
The Court posted the matter for hearing after two weeks after the BCI counsel submitted that the circular has been withdrawn.
Nearly 450 outgoing students of NALSAR had protested after the institute decided to invite CJI Kant for this year’s convocation. The BCI has then issued a circular, directing all state bar councils not to enrol students passing out from NALSAR in 2026.
A huge backlash followed, forcing the BCI to backtrack on its circular within hours on Thursday.
Some members of the BCI had also disagreed with this drastic action against all graduating students from an institution of repute, over the alleged stand of a few.
A lawyer can be enrolled for the practice of law after they graduate in law and pass the All India Bar Examination, held twice a year, as per the rules.