A Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Friday strongly criticized a now-withdrawn Bar Council of India directive targeting students from the 2026 batch of NALSAR law university in Hyderabad. The CJI described the order, which had instructed state bar councils to withhold enrollment of these graduates, as unnecessary and directed that no punitive measures be applied to the students.
The dispute arose after students from the batch wrote a letter opposing the invitation of the CJI as chief guest at their convocation. The Bar Council responded by asking the university to investigate the protest and instructed state councils to delay enrollments pending further review. The directive was rescinded hours later amid widespread criticism.
The bench noted that the Bar Council had no role in what was a direct exchange between the students and the CJI. Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana joined the Chief Justice in issuing notice to the Bar Council and ordering that no action be taken against the students or faculty. The council informed the court that the circular had already been withdrawn, and the matter was adjourned for two weeks.
The controversy began when over 450 students signed a letter to university officials requesting reconsideration of the CJI invitation, citing concerns over recent judicial handling of a protest-related hearing. The Bar Council initially sought a report on the campaign but later clarified that most students should not face consequences for the actions of a few.
