The Bar Council of India has instructed all State Bar Councils to withhold enrollment of any 2026 law graduates from NALSAR University of Law in Hyderabad until further notice. The directive follows student protests against the reported invitation of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant to the university convocation.
Issued on Thursday, the order states that no NALSAR graduate receiving a law degree in 2026 may be registered as an advocate by any state body at this time. The council has requested a detailed report from the university vice-chancellor regarding the events surrounding the planned ceremony.
A Bar Council executive committee member explained that the step aims to maintain discipline and that enrollment may resume if the inquiry finds no misconduct. Students retain the right to challenge the decision legally.
The issue began when more than 450 members of the graduating batch signed a letter to university officials objecting to the choice of chief guest. They cited recent court proceedings involving protests at Jantar Mantar, claiming the Chief Justice made remarks they viewed as dismissive of concerns over police conduct.
The students emphasized that their objection concerned the reported conduct rather than the judicial office itself. They argued that a convocation should align with constitutional values and access to justice, and receiving degrees from the invited guest would conflict with those principles.
