‘Who is the BCI to come between the students and me?’: CJI condemns NALSAR enrolment freeze circular
The top court ordered that no coercive actions would be taken against NALSAR students and administrators; sought an explanation in the form of an affidavit on the BCI circulars
On Friday, August 14, 2026, the Supreme Court vehemently condemned the Bar Council of India's (BCI) circular that suspended enrolment of NALSAR University of Law graduates for the 2026 batch. Chief Justice of India Surya Kant emphasized that the BCI had no authority to meddle with the prospects of NALSAR students, highlighting his own history as a student and a political figure. Kant questioned the BCI's right to interfere, stating, "Who is the BCI to come between the students and me?"
The NALSAR students expressed their discontent by inviting the Chief Justice of India to the university for their convocation ceremony, driven by the Chief Justice's reported remarks and use of the term "cockroach" to describe young people. Initially, the BCI directed State Bar Councils to suspend the graduates' enrolment until further notice, pending an inquiry into the students' opposition to the Chief Justice's participation in the convocation.
After the BCI withdrew the circular, the Supreme Court ordered that no coercive actions should be taken against the NALSAR students or administration based on the incidents detailed in the BCI's circulars issued on August 13. The court requested an explanation from the BCI through an affidavit detailing the issuance of these circulars.
Senior advocate K. Parameshwar argued that the BCI had no disciplinary authority over university students and that the BCI's actions threatened the students' future and livelihoods. He questioned whether the BCI's circulars were adopted through a resolution passed by the entire body or if it was solely the initiative of the BCI chairperson, senior advocate Manan Kumar Mishra. The court agreed with Parameshwar, instructing the BCI to clarify the source of the circulars.
Appearing for the BCI, Advocate Radhika Gautam committed to filing the necessary affidavit. The court accepted Parameshwar's oral request for an expeditious hearing of the petition challenging the BCI's actions. Gautam agreed to provide instructions and file the affidavit, and the court set a notice for the upcoming hearing scheduled for the following week.
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