BENGALURU, August 16: Students and alumni of the National Law School of India University (NLSIU) have opposed the proposed attendance of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Bar Council of India (BCI) Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra at the varsity’s upcoming convocation, citing the BCI’s now-withdrawn order targeting 2026 graduates of Hyderabad’s NALSAR University of Law.
In a statement dated August 15, the group said it strongly disapproved of Mishra attending the convocation “without taking responsibility for his conduct” and also expressed opposition to the CJI attending the event.
The statement was signed by 165 graduating students of the Class of 2026, 409 current students and 128 alumni.
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The students and alumni said they stood in “unconditional solidarity” with their counterparts at NALSAR, who had objected to the proposed campus visit of the CJI.
“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 controversy erupted after the BCI directed all state bar councils not to enrol any 2026 graduate of NALSAR as an advocate until further orders. The directive was withdrawn within hours following widespread criticism.
The students claimed that the BCI’s subsequent withdrawal and closure of proceedings did not address what they described as the “arbitrary” and “illegal” nature of the original action.
They demanded that the BCI unconditionally apologise to the students and faculty of NALSAR, alleging that the council’s actions amounted to an attempt to infringe their fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression.
According to the statement, the episode could create a “chilling effect” on free speech beyond NALSAR by sending a message that dissent could carry serious personal and professional consequences.
The students also questioned the participation of the CJI, who had criticised the BCI’s action during a hearing on August 14.
“It’s a dialogue between students and me,” Surya Kant had said while responding to the controversy over the proposed campus visit.
A bench headed by the CJI had also said that students have a right to protest, after the BCI’s directive against NALSAR graduates triggered a backlash.
The NLSIU students said a convocation should be an occasion to recognise years of academic work and perseverance, particularly for students and families who overcome social and economic barriers to access higher education.
They said the university event should also be viewed in the context of broader concerns over access to higher education and the barriers created by class, caste, gender and shortcomings in entrance examinations.
“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 statement said.
The group said it would continue to oppose the participation of the BCI chairman and CJI at the NLSIU convocation unless the concerns arising from the NALSAR episode were addressed.
