Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Aug 14: Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Friday strongly criticised the Bar Council of India (BCI) for briefly directing state bar councils not to enrol 2026 graduates of Hyderabad's NALSAR University of Law after some students objected to his proposed visit to the campus.

“It’s a dialogue between students and me. Who are they (BCI) to interfere? This is totally uncalled for,” the CJI said when a plea challenging the BCI circular was mentioned before a bench led by him for urgent hearing.

The bench, also comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, observed that students have the right to protest peacefully. The CJI said he himself had actively participated in student activities during his student days.

“Assuming even if they (students) are wrong, they have a right to protest. BCI does not have any business in this,” the bench said, describing the council’s action as “absolutely unnecessary”.

The court directed NALSAR to advise its students to complete their enrolment as advocates at the earliest and said they could be empanelled for legal aid cases. It also issued notice to the BCI seeking its response within two weeks and posted the matter for hearing after two weeks.

In the meantime, the bench directed that no punitive action be taken against NALSAR students or faculty at the instance of the BCI or any state bar council.

The BCI counsel informed the court that the circular had already been withdrawn. The council had initially directed state bar councils not to enrol the university's 2026 graduates until further orders while it examined allegations concerning a campaign against CJI Kant's proposed participation in the university's convocation.

Following widespread criticism, including on social media, the BCI modified its decision and allowed all 2026 NALSAR graduates to enrol with the State Bar Council of their choice. BCI chairperson Manan Kumar Mishra said the “vast majority” of students were innocent and should not suffer for the alleged misconduct of a few.

The council said it had also received information that a small number of teachers and outsiders may have allegedly instigated students. It said no student should be made to suffer without any fault on their part.