Bar Council Chairman apologises to law students:Says students have the right to express their views, but issues should not be politicised

Bar Council of India (BCI) Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra has apologised to law students following the controversy surrounding the NALSAR University convocation ceremony. According to a report by Bar Bench, Mishra sent the apology in a letter on Independence Day. The letter does not name NALSAR University or directly refer to the controversy. However, it mentions the events of the past few days and acknowledges concerns raised by law students. Mishra wrote: If any statement related to the current controversy, any of my words or letters, has hurt the sentiments of our law students, then I apologise for it. There should be no hesitation in saying so. Expressing regret is not a matter of prestige or ego. It is merely an acknowledgment that the feelings and concerns of our students matter. Supreme Court had reprimanded BCI Earlier on Friday, the Supreme Court reprimanded the BCI over its handling of the NALSAR controversy. CJI Surya Kant observed that even if the students’ decision was wrong, they still had the right to express their views and protest. He said, “Even if the students’ decision is wrong, they still have the right to express themselves and protest.” Manan urges students not to politicise the issue under external influence In his letter, Manan Kumar Mishra said, “The Bar Council of India considers law students the future of the legal profession. Their freedom of thought and legitimate concerns must always be respected. Dialogue and constitutional values are equally important for the future of the profession they are preparing to enter.” The letter further stated, “I sincerely hope that this issue will now be addressed with fairness and a spirit of reconciliation. This issue should not be politicised by outside influence. Our students are intelligent and mature enough to examine the facts.” “Let the students examine the matter themselves,” Manan said, adding that every institution should respect their freedom of expression. When and what happened in the Hyderabad University controversy… August 9: Reports emerged that around 450 students of the National Academy of Legal Studies and Research (NALSAR) University opposed the appointment of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant as the chief guest at the university’s 2026 convocation. The students objected to the CJI’s reported remarks referring to unemployed people as “cockroaches”. A group of students from the 2026 batch wrote to the Vice-Chancellor, Registrar, faculty members and other university officials, urging them to reconsider the decision to invite the CJI as chief guest. August 13: Bar Council of India (BCI) Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra sought a report from NALSAR Vice-Chancellor Professor Srikrishna Dev Rao and all state bar councils regarding the protest against the CJI. The BCI sought details of those who had initiated, organised or mobilised students for the protest. It also ordered state bar councils not to enrol students from NALSAR’s 2026 batch. August 13: Hours later, the BCI withdrew its order barring the enrolment of NALSAR’s 2026 batch. The council said reports indicated that most students who had signed the protest letter were innocent and had no intention of participating in the campaign. Following a detailed discussion, the council amended the chairman’s earlier order, allowing all students to enrol as advocates with the state bar council of their choice. August 14: The Supreme Court reprimanded the BCI over the NALSAR controversy. CJI Surya Kant observed that even if the students had made a wrong decision or had been given incorrect advice, they still had the right to express their views and protest. The court also issued notice to the BCI and directed it not to take any punitive action against students or faculty members of the university. ​