Hyderabad: The Bar Council of India (BCI) has directed all State Bar Councils not to enrol any student of NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad, who obtained a Law Degree in 2026, as an advocate until further orders. The decision comes as the BCI seeks an authenticated factual report from the university concerning a reported campaign relating to the proposed participation or invitation of Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant at the NALSAR convocation.
In a communication dated August 13, BCI Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra said the Council had taken note of reports and material appearing in the public domain concerning an organised campaign at NALSAR.
The BCI said it considered it necessary to ascertain the true factual position directly from the university rather than drawing conclusions merely from media reports, social media posts or other secondary material.
The NALSAR Vice-Chancellor has been directed to furnish an authenticated report to the BCI within three days.
The report is to include a complete copy of any representation, petition, memorandum or other communication submitted to the university concerning the proposed participation or invitation of the CJI, along with the complete list of signatories available in the university’s official records.
The BCI has further asked the university to identify, on the basis of verifiable material, persons who were principally instrumental in initiating the campaign or representation, drafting or circulating it through the media, organising meetings, coordinating or mobilising participation, communicating with the press or media on behalf of the group, or administering any official or organised electronic or social-media group used for coordination.
The university has also been asked to identify persons who proposed, issued or mobilised any call for boycott, obstruction, disruption or organised non-participation in the convocation or any programme connected with the CJI.
The report is also expected to identify the names and designations of office-bearers of the Student Bar Council, Students’ Union, student committees or other recognised student organisations involved in initiating, approving, coordinating or circulating the campaign.
The BCI has specifically sought details of any involvement by faculty members, research scholars, alumni or outsiders in initiating, drafting, coordinating, advising or facilitating the campaign. It has also asked the university to provide copies of resolutions, minutes, agendas or other official records if meetings of student bodies were held in connection with the matter.
The Council said a distinction must be maintained between persons who merely signed or supported a representation and those who organised or coordinated the campaign, as well as those who proposed or mobilised an actual boycott, obstruction or disruption.
BCI also clarified that it had not, at this stage, recorded that any person stood disqualified from enrolment merely because of participation in the representation or campaign.
However, the BCI said that where material concerning a particular applicant is under active statutory examination, completion of enrolment during the pendency of such examination could create a fait accompli and render the statutory examination ineffective. Where the BCI specifically communicates the name of a person to a State Bar Council, no enrolment order is to be passed and the name is not to be entered on the State Roll during the inquiry.
The BCI said legal education encourages critical reasoning, debate and analysis of judicial decisions. At the same time, it stressed the distinction between reasoned criticism and conduct which, if established upon due examination, may involve intimidation, obstruction, organised disruption or disregard of institutional responsibilities attached to the legal profession.
The development follows an email reportedly sent by NALSAR students on July 23 concerning the Supreme Court’s refusal to urgently list a plea relating to the alleged police action against protesters during the peaceful ‘Chalo Sansad’ demonstration at Jantar Mantar on July 20.
According to the communication, the demonstration was called by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), with protesters raising issues including the conduct of the NEET examination and reforms in the National Testing Agency.
The students referred to the alleged refusal of urgent listing on July 22 and stated that the CJI reportedly told counsel, “Don’t waste our time, and don’t waste your time.” They further said that when counsel offered to show video evidence of alleged police excesses, the CJI reportedly responded, “We are not interested in videos; we don’t have time to watch.” The students also stated that when counsel sought to explain the issues underlying the protest, he was reportedly cut short with the remark, “thank you very much.”
The BCI communication, however, specifically seeks a factual report concerning the campaign at NALSAR relating to the proposed participation or invitation of the CJI at the university’s convocation. The Council said the matter would be considered strictly on the basis of verified facts and the individual role of each person concerned.
The interim deferment will continue until the individual issue is disposed of by the BCI or further directions are issued. The BCI has said that the final decision in the matter would be taken on August 19, 2026, after receipt of the report from the NALSAR Vice-Chancellor.
