Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Friday criticised the Bar Council of India (BCI) for issuing a directive asking state bar councils not to enrol 2026 graduates of NALSAR University of Law as advocates. The directive was issued against the backdrop of protests by NALSAR students over the CJI’s invitation to attend the university’s annual convocation. The BCI later withdrew the directive, but the matter came before the Supreme Court in a plea challenging the action. During the hearing, CJI Surya Kant said students had a right to protest and questioned the BCI’s intervention in the dispute.

The Chief Justice said the students had written to him and that the issue was essentially a dialogue between the students and himself. He described the BCI’s action as unnecessary and said the regulatory body had no role in the matter. “Students have the right to protest,” the CJI said while expressing his displeasure over the directive. His remarks came as the court considered the implications of the BCI’s decision to prevent the graduates from being enrolled with state bar councils.

CJI Surya Kant also indicated that students should not face professional consequences merely for expressing their views. Referring to the possibility of young people making incorrect statements, he said that this did not take away their right to protest. He orally suggested that the students should proceed with their enrolment and join the Supreme Court Bar, adding that they could be empanelled for legal aid cases. The remarks underscored the distinction between students exercising their right to express disagreement and their eligibility to begin their legal careers.

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The dispute stems from protests at NALSAR over the CJI’s invitation to the university’s annual convocation. The controversy subsequently escalated after the BCI issued its directive concerning the 2026 graduating batch. Although the directive has since been withdrawn, the episode has raised questions about the extent to which professional regulatory bodies can intervene in disputes involving law students and academic institutions. The Supreme Court’s observations during Friday’s hearing made clear that the CJI viewed the BCI’s action as disproportionate and unnecessary in a matter concerning students’ protest against him.

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