NALSAR student body now demands apology from Bar Council chairman

The Student Bar Council at NALSAR University of Law has called for an apology from Bar Council of India chairperson Manan Kumar Mishra over remarks deemed objectionable towards students and faculty. This demand stems from a controversy surrounding a campaign against inviting Chief Justice of India Surya Kant to the university convocation.

Initially, the BCI banned 2026 graduates from NALSAR from becoming advocates, but later withdrew the ban following mounting criticism. The student body's letter, issued late on Friday, condemns the incident on several levels: statutory, constitutional, and in light of social realities. The students assert that the BCI's letter violates their right to freedom of speech and expression as guaranteed by Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution.

They reject the idea that constitutional fidelity requires silence and emphasize the importance of nurturing independent thought and critical inquiry in a university setting. The students also denounce the BCI's characterization of the campaign as "groupism" and "dirty politics," labeling these allegations as unprofessional, unfounded, and full of malice.