Protest, enrolment ‘freeze’, CJI’s rap, then apology: Blow-by-blow of NALSAR row
NALSAR Enrolment Dispute: Timeline of Events from Student Protest to CJI Intervention
Apology and Reversal After Supreme Court Criticism
Bharatmorningnews.com – Bar Council of India chairman Manan Kumar Mishra issued a public apology on Saturday to law students following Chief Justice of India Surya Kant's sharp criticism of the Council's handling of the NALSAR situation. Mishra expressed genuine regret that any aspect of the controversy—whether his statements or official correspondence—might have caused emotional distress to the students.
This development came shortly after CJI Kant publicly reprimanded the BCI for overstepping its authority in the matter. The Supreme Court head emphasized that the Council lacked jurisdiction to interfere with students' fundamental right to peaceful demonstration.
Origins of the Student Movement
The controversy began when NALSAR students voiced opposition to inviting CJI Surya Kant as the chief guest at their upcoming convocation ceremony. A formal representation was initially submitted on July 23 by seventy members of the outgoing LLB batch, with subsequent support from students across multiple graduating years.
In their communication to university authorities, students highlighted a specific concern: the Supreme Court bench headed by CJI Kant had declined to examine a petition concerning alleged police violence against demonstrators during the July 20 "Chalo Sansad" march at New Delhi's Jantar Mantar.
As students of law, our concern is narrower and more specific to us as a graduating batch. A convocation is meant to be a moment where the University's own values, including a commitment to constitutional rights, access to justice, and reasoned engagement with grievances, are visibly reflected in the choices it makes.
BCI's Sweeping Response
Reacting to the student campaign, BCI chairman Mishra issued directives to all State Bar Councils, ordering them to halt the enrollment of every 2026 NALSAR law graduate as advocates until further notice. The Council simultaneously requested NALSAR to submit a comprehensive report identifying individuals who initiated, organized, coordinated, or mobilized the anti-CJI participation campaign.
Additionally, the BCI sought information regarding potential involvement of faculty members, research scholars, alumni associations, student organizations, and external parties in the boycott effort. Details about representations made, meetings held, social media groups formed, media interactions, and any formal calls for disruption were also requested.
The initial communication justified the temporary freeze, arguing that permitting enrollments during the ongoing inquiry could potentially compromise the investigation process.
Rapid Reversal Amid Public Backlash
Within hours of the announcement, mounting criticism forced the BCI to withdraw its order. The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), founded by Abhijeet Dipke, threatened to organize protests in response to the controversial decision.
The revised notification acknowledged that the "vast majority" of NALSAR students remained innocent and deserved not to be penalized for the alleged misbehavior of a minority. This clarification aimed to distinguish between the protesting students and those potentially responsible for the campaign's organization.
CJI's Firm Stance on Student Rights
On Friday, CJI Surya Kant delivered a strong rebuke to the BCI, declaring that the Council had "no business" meddling with students' constitutional right to protest. He assured that the judiciary would prevent any obstruction to students raising their voices through lawful and peaceful means.
The BCI is unnecessarily taking action in this matter. If students have a cause or a reason to protest, they have a right to protest. Nobody can stop them, and we will not allow this.
Following these remarks, the CJI restrained both the BCI and all State Bar Councils from initiating any punitive or criminal proceedings against students and university faculty members connected to the controversy. Senior advocate K Parameshwar had brought the matter before the Supreme Court bench, prompting the judicial intervention.
NALSAR, formally known as the National Academy for Legal Studies and Research University, remains one of India's prominent public law schools located in Hyderabad, Telangana. The institution continues to navigate this significant episode in its recent history as the Council and university work toward resolution.
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