Students free to express their views: BCI chairman apologises after NALSAR row

The BCI chairperson has apologised to law students amid the NALSAR controversy, saying he regrets any words or communication that may have hurt their sentiments.BCI chief Manan Kumar Mishra says sorry if NALSAR row remarks hurt students (Image: Facebook, AI Edit)Days after the Bar Council of India's controversial move against NALSAR's 2026 graduating batch triggered a backlash and Supreme Court criticism, BCI chairperson Manan Kumar Mishra has apologised to law students and said they “must always remain free to express their views”.In an Independence Day letter addressed to “young friends”, Mishra said the developments of the past few days had caused “concern and anguish” among a section of the student community and acknowledged that his words or communication may have hurt them.“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.“There should be no hesitation in saying so. An expression of regret is not a matter of prestige or ego. It is simply an acknowledgment that the feelings and concerns of our students matter,” he added. ‘STUDENTS MUST ALWAYS REMAIN FREE TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS’Mishra's letter goes beyond an expression of regret, with the BCI chief stressing that peaceful disagreement, questioning and protest are part of a constitutional democracy.“Students must always remain free to express their views,” he said. He also said law students were capable of making their own decisions and “do not require anyone to decide for them”, adding that they should not be subjected to pressure or influence from any quarter.“Our law students, particularly those studying in the National Law Universities and other leading Centres of Legal Education, are among the most informed and discerning young citizens of the country,” Mishra wrote.“They do not require anyone to decide for them. Nor should they be subjected to pressure or influence from any quarter.”‘LET THE STUDENTS EXAMINE THE MATTER THEMSELVES’Mishra also addressed the controversy over the NALSAR convocation and the decision by a section of students to oppose the invitation to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant as chief guest.He said students should be free to decide whether to attend the convocation, stressing that no student should be compelled either to attend or abstain.“The decision whether to participate must, of course, ultimately remain with the students themselves. No student should be compelled to attend, and no student should feel compelled to abstain,” he said.Mishra appealed to students to consider the issue independently and in its entirety.“Let the students examine the matter themselves. Let every institution respect their independence of thought,” he said.He also called for space for dialogue and reconciliation, saying differences between the Judiciary, Bar, universities and law students should ultimately be resolved through “dialogue, clarification and mutual respect”.BCI HAD WITHDRAWN NALSAR ENROLMENT ORDERMishra's letter comes after the BCI's August 13 order directing State Bar Councils not to enrol NALSAR's entire 2026 graduating batch as advocates.The move came after more than 450 students had signed a representation raising concerns over recent judicial developments, including the handling of alleged police excesses during the July 20 Parliament march. A section of students had also opposed the invitation to CJI Surya Kant as chief guest for the university's convocation.The BCI had sought a report identifying those responsible for the student campaign and said a final decision would be taken on August 19.Following widespread criticism, the Council modified its order and allowed the batch to enrol, saying the “vast majority” of students were innocent. It subsequently dropped the proceedings altogether.SUPREME COURT HAD CRITICISED BCI MOVEThe controversy also reached the Supreme Court, where a bench headed by CJI Surya Kant called the BCI's now-withdrawn order “absolutely unnecessary” and said students had a right to protest.The court also directed that no punitive action be taken against NALSAR students or faculty at the instance of the BCI or State Bar Councils.The BCI's intervention had raised questions over whether its statutory powers could be used to impose a blanket enrolment freeze on an entire graduating batch before the students had even entered the legal profession.Mishra had earlier told India Today that “the matter stands closed” and that “everything has been withdrawn”.‘THEY ARE THE FUTURE LEADERS OF THE BAR, BENCH’In his latest letter, Mishra also sought to emphasise the importance of law students to the profession they are preparing to enter.“The Bar Council of India regards law students as the future of the legal profession. Their dignity, independence of thought and legitimate concerns must always be respected,” he wrote.He said students at National Law Universities would go on to become advocates, senior advocates, teachers, scholars and judges, with some eventually occupying senior positions in the legal and judicial system.Mishra urged students to consider the controversy with “fairness and a spirit of reconciliation” and said it should not acquire a “political or extraneous colour through outside influence”.“Our students are the future leaders of the Bar, the Bench and legal academia. Their greatest strength will always be their ability to think independently, listen to differing viewpoints and reach conclusions guided by reason, fairness and the Constitution,” he wrote.He concluded his Independence Day message by calling for “independent thought, mutual respect and constitutional responsibility” amid the controversy.- EndsPublished On: Aug 15, 2026 20:54 IST