Days after he kindled a controversy, and received a rap from the Chief Justice of India, over his order barring students from the 2026 batch of the prestigious NALSAR (National Academy of Legal Studies and Research) University of Law in Hyderabad from enrolling as advocates, Bar Council of India Chief Manan Kumar Mishra has apologised and said “independence of thought” must be respected.
A section of NALSAR’s graduating class of 2026 had objected to the university’s proposal to invite Chief Justice of India Surya Kant as the chief guest for its convocation over his remarks during a request for urgent listing of a petition alleging police brutality during the Cockroach Janata Party-led protests at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. In an order issued on Thursday, the Bar Council of India – led by Mishra, who is also a BJP Rajya Sabha MP – had asked all state bar councils not to enrol students from the 2026 batch until further directions.
Justice Kant was quoted as saying “don’t waste our time” and had later clarified that he had not declined to hear the plea but had asked for it to be filed properly. “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,” the order said.
