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Chief Justice Surya Kant on Friday criticised the Bar Council of India for directing state bar councils not to enrol students from the National Academy of Legal Studies and Research graduating in 2026 as advocates, calling the now-revoked action “absolutely uncalled for”, Bar and Bench reported.
Kant said: “It’s a dialogue between students and me. Who are they to raise an issue?”
On Thursday, the council had directed state councils to defer the enrolment of the graduating batch of NALSAR students as advocates, objecting to the campaign of some students against the institute inviting Kant to their convocation.
It withdrew the decision a few hours later, but said it had sought an inquiry report from the university identifying those who were “principally instrumental” in opposing Kant’s participation in the convocation.
Later in the night, the council closed all proceedings against the students, saying it was satisfied that the 2026 batch had no role in any “disturbance or movement”.
The matter was mentioned on Friday before a bench comprising Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana after Advocate K Parameshwar challenged the council’s action.
Kant said that he had been actively involved in student activities in his student days, adding that “even if they are wrong, they have a right to protest”.
The court recorded that the circular had been withdrawn and directed that no punitive action be taken against students or faculty of NALSAR or any other national law university.
It also issued notice to the Bar Council, directing it to file a response within two weeks.
Kant also said the students should enrol as advocates and join the Supreme Court Bar, adding that they could be empanelled for legal aid cases. “This will be the befitting answer to all those who caused impediment in their professional career,” he said.
NALSAR has extended an invitation to the CJI for the upcoming convocation despite students urging the university to reconsider the decision, citing Kant’s response to a petition alleging that police had used excessive force against protesters in Delhi on July 20.
Kant had reportedly told the lawyer not to “waste our time” and said the bench was not interested in watching video evidence of the alleged police action.
In a communication addressed to state bar councils and NALSAR Vice-Chancellor Srikrishna Deva Rao, Bar Council Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra had asked the university to submit a factual report within three days about the persons involved in mobilising the “organised campaign” against the CJI’s participation.
Political campaign Cockroach Janta Party had described the directive as “grossly disproportionate” and warned of protests by law students and advocates if it was not taken back.
Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party, had warned of a protest outside the Bar Council’s office and Mishra’s official residence by law students, advocates, senior lawyers, and “well-meaning young cockroaches”, if the order was not withdrawn.
Edited by Neerad Pandharipande.
Also read: What the Bar Council’s bid to curb NALSAR students says about university autonomy
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