NALSAR To Place BCI-Ordered Inquiry Into CJI Campaign Before Executive Council, Questions Its Constitutional Authority

Hyderabad: NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad, has said it will place before its Executive Council the question of whether conducting an inquiry demanded by the Bar Council of India into persons involved in a campaign concerning the Chief Justice of India's proposed Convocation visit would be a constitutional exercise of the University's powers, in a press release issued by Vice-Chancellor Prof. Srikrishna Deva Rao on 13th August, 2026.

The press release follows two letters issued by the Bar Council of India to the University on the same day. The first, bearing reference No. BCI:D:5449/2026, stated that the Bar Council had taken note of reports concerning an organised campaign at NALSAR relating to the proposed participation of Hon'ble Mr. Justice Surya Kant, Chief Justice of India, at the University's Convocation, and directed that no State Bar Council enrol any 2026-passed-out NALSAR student as an advocate till further orders. That letter had asserted that a student of law having no regard for the highest judicial office of the country was not expected to be a responsible advocate, teacher or judge, and had directed the Vice-Chancellor to furnish, within three days, an authenticated report identifying persons instrumental in initiating, organising, coordinating or mobilising the campaign, along with copies of any representation submitted to the University and its list of signatories.

Also Read: Bar Council of India Bars Enrolment of 2026 NALSAR Law Graduates as Advocates Till Further Orders 

The Bar Council's first letter had also alleged, citing what it described as reliable sources, that groupism and dirty politics among some academic staff had led them to mislead, instigate and misguide students, and had invoked its statutory powers under Sections 7(1)(b), 7(1)(g), 7(1)(h), 7(1)(i) and 49 of the Advocates Act, 1961 to justify the enrolment freeze, while clarifying that no person stood disqualified under Section 24A merely for participating in the representation, and that a final decision would follow on 19th August, 2026 after receipt of the University's report.

According to NALSAR's press release, the University subsequently received a second letter from the Bar Council, bearing reference No. BCI:D:5450/2026, rescinding the directive to State Bar Councils disallowing enrolment of the 2026 graduating batch. This second letter had stated that the Council's Members were unanimously of the view that the vast majority of NALSAR's 2026 pass-out students were innocent and not inclined to take part in the alleged move of disrespect, while attributing instigation to a handful of teachers and outsiders, and had held that all students would be entitled to enrol with State Bar Councils of their choice.

The press release states that, notwithstanding the withdrawal of the enrolment ban, the "second letter from the Bar Council of India (ref. no. BCID 5450/2026) retains the requirement that the Vice-Chancellor submit an inquiry report on the persons involved."

Also Read: BCI Withdraws NALSAR Enrolment Freeze Within Hours, Allows 2026 Graduates to Enrol

Addressing this continuing requirement, the Vice-Chancellor's press release states that, given the nature of the request, the University will have to consider whether conducting such an inquiry would be a constitutional exercise of its powers. To assist in this assessment, it states that the matter will be placed before the Executive Council of the University, which it describes as the University's highest decision-making body under the statute establishing the institution.

The press release adds that once the process of consultation with the Executive Council is completed, the outcome will be communicated to the Bar Council of India, and that these details are also in the process of being communicated to the Bar Council.