The Bar Council of India has taken back its order which barred students belonging to the 2026 batch of Hyderabad law college, National Academy of Legal Studies (NALSAR), from enrolling as advocates. Hours earlier, the BCI had directed every State Bar Council not to enrol any student graduating from Hyderabad’s NALSAR University of Law in 2026 as an advocate until further orders after students of the institution protested against an invitation to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant to attend the university’s convocation.
BCI chairperson Manan Kumar Mishra earlier said no student who obtained a law degree from NALSAR in 2026 should be enrolled as an advocate until the council issues further directions.
The decision followed reports that a section of the graduating class had objected to the university’s reported proposal to invite Justice Surya Kant as the chief guest for its forthcoming convocation. The students’ campaign was prompted by the Chief Justice’s reported remarks during a Supreme Court hearing concerning alleged police action against protesters at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. No student shall be made to suffer without any fault on his or her part,” BCI chairperson Manan Kumar said in a statement on Thursday evening.
The factual inquiry will continue, and further action will follow on the basis of the report. Such persons shall always be a liability on the profession. Such conduct, reflects adversely upon the person’s suitability for entry into or association with the legal profession and is inconsistent with the dignity, discipline and ethical standards of the legal profession. Our experience is that such people are always indulged in strikes and boycotts and tarnish the image of the legal profession,” it added.
All 2026 passed-out students of NALSAR will now be entitled to seek enrolment with the State Bar Council of their choice. Mishra had earlier said no student who obtained a law degree from NALSAR in 2026 should be enrolled as an advocate until the council issues further directions.
The BCI has now sought a detailed account from the university identifying those it says were principally involved in initiating, organising, coordinating or mobilising the campaign. “A student of Law, having no regard or respect for the highest Judicial Office of the country, is not expected to be a responsible or sensible Advocate, Teacher or a Judge,” a statement from the BCI read.
“After detailed deliberation, the @barcouncilindia has modified its earlier directions concerning @NALSAR_Official.
