AILU condemns BCI action against NALSAR students, demands withdrawal of enquiry
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Shimla, August 17
All India Lawyers Union (AILU), Himachal Pradesh, has strongly condemned the Bar Council of India (BCI) order barring the enrolment of the 2026 batch of NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad, and demanded an immediate end to the continuing enquiry into students and teachers over their participation in a representation concerning the invitation to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant to the university’s convocation.
In a statement issued here on Monday, AILU said the BCI Chairman, on August 13, directed all State Bar Councils not to enrol any student of NALSAR who obtained a law degree in 2026 until further orders. The action followed opposition by a section of outgoing students to the invitation extended to the CJI to attend the convocation, in the context of his remarks concerning the Delhi student protests.
AILU termed the action an unwarranted exercise of regulatory power and said it amounted to a negation of students’ personal liberty and their right to freedom of speech and expression. It argued that the BCI had no disciplinary jurisdiction over law students and that the students’ conduct did not constitute contempt of court or violation of any law.
The organisation said students were entitled to express disagreement over the choice of a chief guest at their own convocation, irrespective of the constitutional or judicial office held by the invitee. Treating such expression of opinion as a lack of respect for the highest judicial office, it said, would amount to conflating legitimate dissent with indiscipline and could set a dangerous precedent for legal education.
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AILU pointed out that the BCI withdrew the enrolment order within hours, acknowledging that the overwhelming majority of the NALSAR 2026 batch were innocent and had no role in the matter. It said the issuance of such an order without examining the role of individual students reflected poorly on the exercise of regulatory authority.
The union also opposed the continuation of the enquiry into students and teachers associated with the representation, saying such proceedings could intimidate members of the academic community and create a chilling effect on the expression of dissent. It noted that a final decision was stated to be scheduled for August 19 and demanded that the enquiry be dropped altogether.
AILU further alleged that recent actions of the BCI reflected an undemocratic and authoritarian tendency and criticised what it described as politically partisan functioning. It demanded the immediate resignation of BCI Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra, alleging that his functioning had undermined the dignity, integrity and autonomy of the Bar Council of India.
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