Bengaluru law students oppose CJI, Bar Council chief attending their convocation

NLSIU students and alumni have opposed CJI Surya Kant and BCI Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra attending the university's convocation, citing the BCI's withdrawn order against NALSAR graduates. They demanded an apology from the BCI and expressed solidarity with NALSAR students.The statement was signed by 165 graduating students of the Class of 2026, 409 current students and 128 alumni.Students and alumni of the National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru, have opposed Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Bar Council of India (BCI) Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra attending the varsity’s upcoming convocation.In a statement dated August 15, the students and alumni condemned the now-withdrawn BCI order directing state bar councils to halt the enrolment of 2026 graduates of NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad. They also expressed solidarity with NALSAR students, who they said had shown “exemplary courage and moral conviction” in speaking truth to power.The statement was signed by 165 graduating students of the Class of 2026, 409 current students and 128 alumni.“We are aware that the BCI has closed all proceedings against NALSAR. However, the fact that such unconstitutional and illegal ‘proceedings’ can be initiated by a statutory body against students and faculty members of a public university in the first place does not alter the nature or the larger impact of such actions or dilute the responsibility of the Chairman and the BCI,” the statement said. The students and alumni said that even after recalling the enrolment ban and inquiry order, the BCI had acknowledged the “arbitrary” and “illegal nature” of its actions.They said a university convocation was a significant milestone in a student’s academic life and an occasion to celebrate years of hard work and perseverance. They also highlighted the barriers to higher education posed by class, caste and gender, as well as poorly designed and conducted entrance examinations. “In this context, inviting persons in high office to confer degrees to students towards whom they have publicly expressed their disdain and condescension is offensive, humiliating, and a mockery of students and their struggles,” the statement said.The students and alumni demanded that the BCI unconditionally apologise to the NALSAR student and faculty community for attempting to infringe upon their fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression.They said the BCI’s actions created a “chilling effect” on free speech not only among NALSAR students and faculty but also among students and citizens across the country by sending a message that an “act of dissent” could invite severe personal and professional consequences.The statement also expressed “strong disapproval” of Mishra attending the NLSIU convocation without taking responsibility for his conduct. It also said the students stood in solidarity with NALSAR in its request to reconsider the choice of the CJI as chief guest for its convocation and expressed disapproval of Surya Kant attending the NLSIU event for the same reasons.The controversy follows a dispute between the BCI and NALSAR students over the proposed visit of the CJI to the university campus.On August 14, Surya Kant said the issue was “a dialogue between students and me” while pulling up the BCI over its order directing that 2026 NALSAR graduates not be enrolled as advocates following their objections to his proposed campus visit.The CJI-led bench said students had a right to protest, a day after the BCI directed all state bar councils not to enrol any 2026 graduate of NALSAR until further orders.The BCI withdrew the order within hours following an uproar on social media.- EndsPublished By: India Today Web Desk Published On: Aug 16, 2026 13:10 IST