No NALSAR 2026 Graduate to Be Enrolled as Advocate, Says Bar Council Amid CJI Invite Row

The Bar Council of India (BCI) has directed all State Bar Councils not to enrol students graduating from the National Academy of Legal Studies and Research (NALSAR), Hyderabad, in 2026.

As advocates until further orders, amid a controversy over the reported invitation to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant as chief guest at the university’s convocation. In an order issued on Thursday, the BCI said, “No student of NALSAR University of Law, who has obtained the Law Degree in the year 2026, shall be enrolled by any State Bar Council as an Advocate till further orders.”

The decision follows objections raised by a section of NALSAR students over the reported invitation to CJI Surya Kant. The move could temporarily affect the professional plans of more than 450 graduating students, whose enrolment is required to enter legal practice as advocates.

BCI Seeks Report From NALSAR Vice-Chancellor

Alongside the enrolment restriction, the BCI has sought a report from the Vice-Chancellor of NALSAR on the developments surrounding the university’s convocation.

Advocate VP Sharma, a member of the BCI Executive Committee, said the decision was approved by the committee and was aimed at maintaining discipline among students. He clarified that the BCI had, for now, only sought a report from the university.

“If there was no indiscipline, then we will go ahead with the enrolment,” Sharma said, adding that those challenging the BCI’s decision were free to approach the appropriate forum.

Over 450 Students Object To CJI’s Reported Invitation

The controversy began after more than 450 students from NALSAR’s 2026 graduating batch signed a representation opposing the reported decision to invite CJI Surya Kant as chief guest for the convocation.

The students noted that the date of the convocation and the identity of the chief guest had not been formally finalised, but said they wanted their concerns recorded before any final decision was taken.

Their representation referred to recent judicial proceedings involving allegations of police action against protesters during a march from Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on July 20.

Students Raise Concerns Over Jantar Mantar Hearing

The students cited the proceedings before the Supreme Court in connection with the alleged police action. According to their representation, during a July 23 hearing, the CJI declined to watch video footage that the petitioners said showed alleged police excesses, remarking that the court was not interested in watching videos because it did not have time.

The students also raised concerns over remarks they attributed to the CJI regarding the Jantar Mantar protest, including an alleged comparison of Indian youth to “cockroaches”.

“We, the undersigned students of [redacted] (2025-2026), share the concerns of the graduating batch regarding inviting the Hon’ble CJI, Justice Surya Kant, as our convocation’s Chief Guest,” the representation said.

The students argued that such remarks, along with what they described as an insensitive approach to allegations of police action, made the reported invitation inappropriate for their convocation.

Students Invoke Constitutional Values

The students stressed that their objection was not against the constitutional office of the Chief Justice of India but concerned whether the reported conduct was consistent with the principles they believe a law university’s convocation should embody.

“As students of law, our concern is narrow and more specific to us as a graduating batch,” the representation said.

They argued that a convocation should reflect NALSAR’s stated commitment to constitutional rights, access to justice and reasoned engagement with grievances.

The students said receiving their degrees from a dignitary whose recent reported conduct they viewed as dismissive of allegations involving police action against protesters would conflict with the values they had been taught at the law school.

The BCI’s decision has now added a professional dimension to the controversy, with the enrolment of the entire 2026 graduating batch placed on hold pending further orders and the outcome of the council’s inquiry.