The Bar Council of India (BCI) has withdrawn its order stopping the enrolment of students from the 2026 batch of the National Academy of Legal Studies and Research (NALSAR) University. The students had been accused of campaigning against CJI Justice Suryakant. Recent reports said around 450 university students had opposed the CJI being invited as the chief guest for the 2026 convocation. A group of students had written to the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Registrar, faculty members and other administrative officials. The BCI said its latest report found that most of the students graduating from NALSAR in 2026 were innocent. It said these students had not wanted to take part in the campaign. NALSAR has not yet officially announced the date of its convocation. However, it has been a tradition for the CJI to deliver a speech at the convocation. All students approved for enrolment The BCI said in a statement that after detailed discussions with its members, the council had changed the chairman’s earlier order. All students can now enrol as lawyers with the State Bar Council of their choice. The council said the order stopping the enrolment of NALSAR’s 2026 batch students with State Bar Councils had been changed. All students will have the right to enrol with the State Bar Council of their choice. BCI had earlier stopped enrolment after seeking a report BCI Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra had earlier sought reports from NALSAR Vice-Chancellor Professor Srikrishna Deva Rao and all State Bar Councils over the campaign against the CJI. The report sought details of those who had started or organised the campaign, as well as those who had mobilised students to take part in it. Following this, the BCI directed State Bar Councils not to enrol students from NALSAR’s 2026 batch. The circular said that until further orders, no State Bar Council would enrol any NALSAR University of Law student who obtains a law degree in 2026 as an advocate. Tata Institute had also postponed its convocation Recently, the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) also postponed its convocation amid concerns over possible protests against CJI Suryakant. The institute postponed the event on July 31, just 48 hours before it was scheduled to take place, citing “unforeseen circumstances”. The 86th convocation, which was originally scheduled for August 2, will now be held on August 22. 3 occasions when people reacted strongly to CJI Suryakant’s comments 15 May: CJI said some young people were ‘wandering like cockroaches’ During a hearing on a petition, Supreme Court Chief Justice Suryakant made remarks about young people. CJI Suryakant had said, “There are young people like cockroaches who are unable to find employment in this profession. Some become media activists, some social media activists, and others become RTI or other types of activists. They start attacking everyone.” Following the remarks, a person named Abhijeet Deepke created a social media page called the ‘Cockroach Janata Party’ on July 16. The group later held a 35-day protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. 22 July: CJI said, ‘We are not interested in watching videos’ On July 22, a lawyer filed a public interest petition before a three-judge bench headed by CJI Suryakant. During the hearing, the lawyer said students were raising important issues and that there were also videos showing alleged police action against them. He requested that the case be heard urgently, if possible. CJI Suryakant responded, “We are not interested in the videos. We do not have time to watch them.” When the lawyer again requested that the videos showing alleged assaults on students be viewed, the CJI said, “Do not waste our time and yours.” 24 July: CJI said he had not refused to hear any petition Two petitions were filed in connection with alleged police violence against protesters. Several states were parties to the cases. The petitions had not been mentioned earlier because they were awaiting diary numbers. After hearing the arguments, the CJI said, “Let it come up for listing; we will hear it.” Earlier, while hearing another case, CJI Suryakant had said he had not refused to hear any petition related to the alleged lathi charge during the CJP protest. He said, “The truth is that no writ petition had been filed. The media also reported it incorrectly.” Post navigation Tunnel collapse in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli traps 18 workers:Rescue ops underway; 16 safely extracted, 2 still stranded CJI says judiciary takes no sides in decisions:Suryakant says, ‘Protecting and strengthening Constitution is its top duty’
