The Bar Council of India has closed all proceedings against the 2026 graduating batch of NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad, ending a controversy that unfolded over a single day on 13th August, 2026.
Ban lifted after unanimous vote
On August 13, 2026, the council issued its first directive, reference No. BCI:D:5449/2026, ordering state bar councils to withhold enrollment for NALSAR’s 2026 graduates. The letter cited an “organised campaign” tied to the proposed participation of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant at the university’s convocation. It demanded an authenticated report from the vice-chancellor within three days, identifying individuals allegedly involved in mobilizing the campaign. The council claimed unnamed sources suggested academic staff groupism had misled and instigated students.
The initial directive created immediate uncertainty among the graduating batch. Hours later, a second letter (BCI:D:5450/2026) modified the directive, stating that the majority of the 2026 batch were “innocent and not inclined to take part in the alleged move of disrespect.” While enrollment was permitted, the vice-chancellor was still required to submit an inquiry report on those involved.
The swift shift in stance—from a total enrollment freeze to a conditional allowance—highlighted the council’s internal deliberations. The second letter explicitly noted that the council’s members were “unanimously of the view” that most students were not complicit.
In a social media post, Bar Council Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra announced the closure of proceedings, stating, “the Bar Council of India has decided to close the proceedings altogether. No further action is required.”
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The closure of proceedings marked the end of a contentious episode that had sparked debates about the Bar Council’s role in regulating student conduct and the limits of its authority over universities.
Call for respectful dissent
Mishra extended best wishes to the students for their careers, emphasizing their future role as “vanguards of legal institutions.” He urged them to voice opinions freely but with respect and institutional decorum, noting that the highest judicial office is a collective pride of the profession.
While acknowledging dissent as a democratic right, he cautioned against public ridicule of constitutional institutions, calling it counterproductive.
An official communication from the Bar Council of India is expected to follow.