BCI Withdraws NALSAR Enrolment Freeze Within Hours, Allows 2026 Graduates to Enrol [Read Circular]

New Delhi/Hyderabad :The Bar Council of India (BCI) has withdrawn, within hours of issuing it, its own order barring the entire 2026 graduating batch of NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad, from enrolling as advocates with any State Bar Council, following a controversy over the university's proposed invitation to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant for its convocation.

BCI Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra, in a communication addressed to the NALSAR Vice-Chancellor and the Secretaries of all State Bar Councils, had earlier in the day directed that no 2026 law graduate of the university be enrolled as an advocate "until further orders." The Council stated that it had taken note of reports and material in the public domain regarding an organised campaign at NALSAR opposing the participation of the Chief Justice of India in the university's convocation, reportedly linked to his remarks on the Delhi student protests.

The Council had sought an authenticated factual report from the Vice-Chancellor within three days, directing the university to identify, on the basis of verifiable material, persons principally involved in initiating, drafting, circulating and coordinating the campaign, including any Student Bar Council, Students' Union or other recognised student body, as well as any faculty member, research scholar, alumnus or outsider who may have participated in it.

The BCI had also alleged "groupism and dirty politics" among sections of the academic staff, stating that some teachers had played an active role in misleading and instigating students, and asserted that the Council, as regulator of legal education, could not remain a mute spectator to the situation. It clarified at the time that the freeze was interim in nature and that no student had been declared disqualified, but held that permitting enrolment while an inquiry was pending could frustrate the process. The matter had been listed for further consideration on August 19, 2026, after receipt of the Vice-Chancellor's report.

In a subsequent communication issued the same day, the Council stated that after thorough discussion and deliberation, its members had unanimously concluded that the vast majority of the 2026 pass-out students were innocent and had not been inclined to participate in what it termed "the move of disrespect." It accordingly modified its earlier direction, holding that all NALSAR students would be entitled to enrol with the State Bar Council of their choice.

The Council noted that it had been reported by reliable sources that a handful of teachers and outsiders were instrumental in instigating the students, and stated that it would await the Vice-Chancellor's inquiry report before deciding on further action in that regard.

Clarifying the basis for the reversal, the Council observed that "no student shall be made to suffer without any fault on his part."

The reversal came on the same date as the original order and followed criticism of the initial blanket freeze.

Reference: Letter No. BCI:D:5449/2026 dated 13.08.2026 (original direction); Letter No. BCI:D:5450/2026 dated 13.08.2026 (reconsideration and modification), issued by the Chairman, Bar Council of India.

[Read Circular]