Supreme Court questioned the BCI’s NALSAR enrolment circular, saying students have a right to protest and directing no punitive action
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday came down heavily on the Bar Council of India (BCI) over its circular directing state bar councils not to enrol 2026 graduates of NALSAR University of Law as advocates, observing that students have a right to protest.
A bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, questioned the BCI’s intervention in the matter, which stemmed from a dispute involving the CJI’s proposed participation in NALSAR’s convocation. “They have a right to protest. Who can stop them,” CJI Kant observed.
The court issued notice to the BCI and directed that no punitive action be taken against NALSAR students or faculty at the instance of the BCI or any state bar council. The BCI’s counsel informed the court that the controversial circular had already been withdrawn. The matter has been posted for hearing after two weeks.
The BCI had on August 13 directed state bar councils not to enrol any 2026 NALSAR graduate as an advocate until further orders. The decision triggered widespread criticism, following which the council reversed its position within hours.
In its revised notification, the BCI permitted the enrolment of the graduates, stating that the “vast majority” of students were innocent and should not be made to suffer for the alleged misconduct of a few.
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