BCI withdraws order ‘barring’ graduates of NALSAR University

14 AUGUST 2026

BCI–NALSAR Enrolment Controversy

The Bar Council of India (BCI) initially directed all State Bar Councils not to enrol students who graduated from NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad, in 2026.
The order was issued amid an inquiry into a student campaign opposing Chief Justice of India Surya Kant’s participation in NALSAR’s convocation.
Within hours, the BCI withdrew the order, allowing all 2026 graduates to enrol with the State Bar Council of their choice.

CJI Suryakant’s remarks:

CJI Surya Kant referred to unemployed young people/activists as “cockroaches” during a Supreme Court hearing in May 2026. The remark went viral and prompted Abhijeet Dipke to respond with the post “What if all cockroaches come together?”, which became the origin of the satirical Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) movement.
During an earlier hearing, when a lawyer tried to raise the issue urgently, Justice Kant reportedly rebuffed the attempt to bring the matter up immediately, with reports quoting him as saying “Don’t waste our time.”
The students were particularly critical of the Court’s initial refusal to immediately entertain allegations of police brutality and its handling of video evidence concerning the alleged police action

Why did the BCI initially intervene?

The BCI wanted the NALSAR Vice-Chancellor to investigate:
Who organised the campaign.
Who were its principal organisers.
Details of the representation submitted by students.
The names of its signatories.
The BCI said the issue had to be examined in light of the standards of conduct expected from future members of the legal profession.
It distinguished between legitimate expression of opinion and activities such as intimidation, coercion, personal vilification, disruption, obstruction or an organised boycott.

Manan Kumar Mishra : current BCI Chairman

Manan Kumar Mishra is the current Chairman of the Bar Council of India (BCI).
He is a prominent Indian legal professional and jurist who has held this apex regulatory position since 2012,
He serves as a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha representing Bihar, having been elected unopposed as a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) nominee.

Why was the order withdrawn?

After discussing the matter, BCI members reportedly unanimously concluded that the vast majority of the 2026 graduates were innocent and had not participated in what the Council characterised as a “move of disrespect.”
Therefore, No student should suffer for something in which they were not involved.
The BCI will nevertheless wait for the NALSAR Vice-Chancellor’s inquiry report before deciding whether any further action is necessary.

Core issue

The controversy essentially concerns the balance between students’ freedom to express disagreement and the professional standards expected of future lawyers, particularly when the disagreement concerns the Chief Justice of India and the judiciary.