Now Reading: BCI chief apologises to law students over NALSAR row
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BCI chief apologises to law students over NALSAR row
Bar Council of India chairman Manan Kumar Mishra on Saturday apologised to law students for his letters that triggered a row with NALSAR University of Law. In a letter on Independence Day,…
The Story in Brief
Bar Council of India chairman Manan Kumar Mishra on Saturday apologised to law students for his letters that triggered a row with NALSAR University of Law. In a letter on Independence Day, Mishra said any words that hurt students' feelings were regretted. The apology came after the BCI briefly halted enrolment of NALSAR's 2026 graduating batch as advocates, a move withdrawn within hours after social media backlash.
The controversy began when about 450 NALSAR graduates urged the university to reconsider inviting Chief Justice Surya Kant as convocation chief guest, citing his alleged refusal to hear pleas on police conduct during a student march. The Supreme Court later expressed strong disapproval, saying students have a right to peaceful protest. The NALSAR Student Bar Council condemned the BCI chairperson's language as unprofessional and demanded an apology.
The Indian Opinion
The BCI chief’s apology is welcome but the episode exposed a troubling impulse: casting legitimate student dissent as 'dirty politics' orchestrated by outside forces. That narrative echoes a tired pattern of delegitimising protest rather than engaging with its merits. The Supreme Court rightly reminded everyone that peaceful protest is a constitutional right. The real test now is whether the BCI will clearly define its disciplinary powers under the Advocates Act and stop using them as a cudgel against students who speak up.
Sources (2): deccanherald.com, timesofindia.indiatimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
