BCI chairperson Manan Kumar Mishra issues apology to law students after NALSAR convocation row
- On Saturday, students from the National Law School of India University, Bengaluru, condemned the Bar Council of India's now-withdrawn action against NALSAR University's graduating batch. They demanded an unconditional apology for infringing on free speech rights.
- Bar Council of India Chairman Manan Mohan Mishra had directed state bar councils to defer enrolling NALSAR graduates following students' organized campaign against inviting Chief Justice Surya Kant to their convocation. The directive cited objections to his past judicial conduct.
- Chief Justice Surya Kant criticized the BCI's interference, asking, 'Who are they to interfere?' Following nationwide backlash, Mishra rolled back the directive, though the council initially sought an inquiry identifying students 'principally instrumental' in the opposition.
- NLSIU students labeled the council's actions 'unconstitutional and illegal,' arguing the 1961 Advocates Act does not authorize punitive measures against qualified graduates. They demanded explanation for the unauthorized use of BCI letterhead in directives.
- A petition filed in the Supreme Court seeks structural reforms to the Bar Council, including tenure limits for officials. The plea argues that prolonged continuation of individuals like Mishra in senior positions weakens the statutory body's representative character.
26 Articles
26 Articles
Knowledge Nugget | NALSAR row puts Bar Council of India in focus: Key questions to answer about the legal body
What exactly are the powers and functions of the Bar Council of India? Can the BCI enrol advocates? What role do State Bar Councils play? And can foreign lawyers practise in India? Here’s what you need to know about the BCI, its powers and its role in regulating the legal profession.
BCI chief apologises for letter banning NALSAR graduates
Bar Council of India (BCI) Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra has issued an apology to law students, particularly those from NALSAR, for any hurt caused by the recent controversy surrounding their convocation and enrolment, urging them to make independent decisions.
BCI Chief Manan Kumar Mishra Apologises To NALSAR Students After Row Over CJI Surya Kant’s Convocation Invite
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
BCI Chairman apologises to students after NALSAR row
Hyderabad: The Bar Council of India Chairman, Manan Kumar Mishra, issued an apology on Saturday, August 15, over the recent controversy with the National Academy of Legal Studies and Research (NALSAR) University in Hyderabad. Earlier in the day, the Student Bar Council of NALSAR had sought an apology from the BCI Chairperson for his comment that “a handful of teachers and outsiders were instrumental in instigating innocent students”. The controv…
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