BCI Bars NALSAR’s 2026 Law Graduates From Enrolment, Seeks Report On CJI Surya Kant Convocation Campaign

The communication was issued on August 13 by BCI Chairman and Senior Advocate Manan Kumar Mishra to the Vice-Chancellor of NALSAR and the Secretaries of all State Bar Councils.

The BCI has asked NALSAR to furnish the factual report within three days. It has also stated that a final decision in the matter would be taken on August 19, 2026, after receipt of the Vice-Chancellor's report.

The BCI's communication follows reports of an organised campaign at NALSAR concerning the proposed participation or invitation of CJI Surya Kant in connection with the university's convocation.

The BCI said it considered it necessary to ascertain the factual position directly from the university rather than draw conclusions merely from reports appearing in the media, social media posts or other secondary material.

BCI Seeks details of Organisers, Student bodies, Faculty members

The BCI has asked the university to provide copies of any representation, petition, memorandum or other communication submitted concerning the proposed participation or invitation of the CJI, along with the complete list of signatories available in the university's official records.

It has further asked NALSAR to identify, on the basis of verifiable material, persons who were principally instrumental in initiating or drafting the campaign, circulating it through the media, organising meetings, coordinating or mobilising participation, communicating with the press, administering any official or organised electronic or social-media group, or proposing or mobilising a call for boycott, obstruction, disruption or organised non-participation in the convocation or any programme connected with the CJI.

The university has also been asked to identify the office-bearers of the Student Bar Council, Students' Union, student committees or other recognised student organisations who participated in initiating, approving, coordinating or circulating the campaign.

If any faculty member, research scholar, alumnus or outsider participated in initiating, drafting, coordinating, advising or facilitating the campaign, the BCI has asked the university to state the nature of such involvement.

'Groupism and Dirty politics' among academic staff, BCI says

In one of the strongest observations in the communication, the BCI Chairman said: "As per some reliable sources, there exists groupism and dirty politics among some of the academic staff and they have played very active role in misleading, instigating and misguiding the students."

The communication further states: "This is a very serious matter. The teachers, instead of involving themselves in their teaching job, are doing nasty politics in the campus."

Mishra added: "Bar Council of India, being the regulator of Legal Education cannot be a mute spectator of such a serious situation."

The observations are expressly attributed in the letter to "some reliable sources". The BCI has nevertheless sought an authenticated report from NALSAR before taking a final decision.

'A Student of Law...is not expected to be a responsible or sensible advocate'

The BCI Chairman also made a strong observation regarding the expected conduct of law students entering the legal profession.

The letter states: "A student of Law, having no regard or respect for the highest Judicial Office of the country, is not expected to be a responsible or sensible Advocate, Teacher or a Judge."

It continues: "Such persons shall always be a liability on the profession."

The BCI further stated: "Such conduct, reflects adversely upon the person's suitability for entry into or association with the legal profession and is inconsistent with the dignity, discipline and ethical standards of the legal profession."

The letter added: "Our experience is that such people are always indulged in strikes and boycotts and tarnish the image of the Legal Profession."

BCI distinguishes Legitimate expression from organised disruption

At the same time, the BCI communication makes a distinction between legitimate expression and conduct that could attract regulatory scrutiny.

It states: "There is, however, a material distinction between legitimate expression and conduct which involves organised intimidation, coercion, personal vilification, disruption, obstruction or an organised call for boycott directed against a constitutional functionary or an institutional programme."

The BCI has specifically directed NALSAR to distinguish between students who merely signed or supported a representation and those who organised or coordinated an actual boycott, obstruction or disruption.

BCI clarifies enrolment freeze is interim

Importantly, the BCI has clarified that it has not, at this stage, recorded that any individual stands disqualified from enrolment under Section 24A of the Advocates Act merely because of participation in the representation or campaign.

However, it said that where material concerning the conduct of a particular applicant is under active statutory examination, allowing enrolment to be completed during the examination could potentially frustrate the process.

The BCI has therefore ordered an interim deferment of enrolment for the entire 2026 NALSAR batch.

The communication states: "Till further orders, no student of NALSAR University of Law, who has obtained the Law Degree in the year 2026, shall be enrolled by any State Bar Council as an Advocate."

The BCI has said that after examining the university's report, it will separately communicate the names, if any, of persons whose individual roles require further statutory consideration.

Where an individual's name is specifically communicated for inquiry, the concerned State Bar Council has been directed not to grant enrolment or enter that person's name on the State Roll while the inquiry is pending.

BCI says final decision will be taken on August 19

The BCI has emphasised that the interim arrangement is intended to preserve the integrity of the statutory enrolment process and that the matter will be considered on the basis of verified facts and the individual role of each person concerned.

The letter states: "The Bar Council of India shall consider the matter strictly on the basis of verified facts, and the individual role of each person concerned."

It also reiterates that legal education necessarily encourages critical reasoning, debate and analysis of judicial decisions, but students seeking entry into a regulated profession are expected to distinguish between reasoned criticism and conduct involving intimidation, obstruction or organised disruption.

The BCI has directed NALSAR to furnish the authenticated factual report at the earliest. The final decision is scheduled to be taken on August 19, 2026, after receipt of the Vice-Chancellor's report.

The BCI's letter therefore does not record a final finding of misconduct or disqualification against any particular NALSAR student. The present freeze on enrolment has been described as an interim arrangement pending the factual report and further statutory consideration.