India
oi-Ashish Rana
Bar Council of India (BCI) chairman Manan Kumar Mishra has apologised to law students after the controversy over enrolment of NALSAR University of Law’s 2026 graduation batch. His apology came after CJI Surya Kant slammed BCI’s intervention and protected student’s rights to protest peacefully.
Bar Council of India chairman Manan Kumar Mishra apologized to NALSAR law students following Supreme Court intervention, which upheld students’ right to peaceful protest and halted BCI actions against the 2026 graduating batch.
Mishra Expresses Regret To Students
While writing on Independence Day, Mishra wrote to “my dear young friends” and said that these things had made “concern and anguish” for some students.
“If anything connected with the present controversy, any of my words, or letter, has hurt the feelings of our law students, I sincerely regret and apologise for the same,” Mishra said.
He also said that apologising was not about prestige or ego but to acknowledgement that students’s concern need to be heard with patience, sensitivity and respect.
What Triggered The NALSAR Controversy?
The controversy started after some of NALSAR students object on CJI Surya Kant was being invited as chief guest for convocation ceremony. They were not happy with CJI’s remarks during the protest and police violence against them in Delhi.
Later BCI in response asked NALSAR about students who had organised or mobilised opposition to CJI in ceremony. Then he directed bar council to not enrol the whole university’s 2026 graduating batch. Later BCI withdraw the step and closed the proceedings against students.
Supreme Court Steps In
The Supreme Court later intervened in the matter on Friday, with the bench headed by CJI Surya Kant to make it clear that the students have the right to protest peacefully. The court also directed BCI and state bar council to stop taking any action against the students. Even SC questioned BCI over this decision in the matter.
Mishra Backs Right To Dissent
In his letter on Saturday, Mishra also said law students are free to form their own opinion on call it a peaceful protest and disagreement are part of constitutional democracy.
He also mentioned that no students will be forced to attend or skip the NALSAR event. He also called students to consider the facts independently and dialogue for mutual respect between judiciary bar and students.
