The Bar Council of India (BCI) has withdrawn an order directing state bar councils to defer the enrolment of any student of the National Academy of Legal Studies and Research graduating in 2026 who opposed the participation of Chief Justice Surya Kant at the university’s convocation. However, an inquiry into those who were ‘principally instrumental’ in a campaign against the chief justice will continue.
The Bar Council of India (BCI) has taken further action regarding its order that directed state bar councils to defer the enrolment of any student of the National Academy of Legal Studies and Research (NALSAR) graduating in 2026 who opposed the participation of Chief Justice Surya Kant at the university’s convocation. The BCI has asked NALSAR to submit a factual report within three days about the persons involved in mobilising the ‘organised campaign’ against the CJI’s participation.
In the report, NALSAR is required to include a complete copy of any representation, petition, memorandum, or other communication submitted by students to the university regarding this matter. Additionally, the report should contain the full list of signatories to these representations.
Furthermore, the BCI has asked NALSAR to separately identify those who were involved in initiating the ‘campaign’ through press, social media, or by mobilising any ‘call for boycott, obstruction, disruption, or organised non-participation in the convocation’ or any other programme connected with the CJI.
The BCI's communication to state bar councils and NALSAR Vice-Chancellor Srikrishna Deva Rao also alleged that there exists groupism and dirty politics among some of the academic staff, who have reportedly played an active role in misleading, instigating, and misguiding students. The BCI stated that teachers should be focused on their teaching job instead of engaging in nasty politics within the campus.
The Bar Council of India, being the regulator of Legal Education, cannot be a mute spectator to such a serious situation.
Source:
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