Bar Council Chief Apologises After Order ‘Banning’ Students From Becoming Lawyers
The order was issued after students from the NALSAR University of Law in Hyderabad had opposed a convocation invitation to the Chief Justice of India.
A section of NALSAR’s graduating class of 2026 had objected to the university’s proposal to invite Chief Justice of India Surya Kant as the chief guest for its convocation over his remarks during a request for urgent listing of a petition alleging police brutality during the Cockroach Janata Party-led protests at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. Justice Kant was quoted as saying “Don’t waste our time,” and had later clarified that he had not declined to hear the plea but had asked for it to be filed properly.
In an order issued on Thursday, the Bar Council of India – led by Mishra, who is also a BJP Rajya Sabha MP – had asked all state bar councils not to enrol students from the 2026 batch until further directions. “A student of law, having no regard or respect for the highest judicial office of the country, is not expected to be a responsible or sensible advocate, teacher or a judge,” the order said.
The decision was condemned by many, including Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President and Senior Advocate Vikas Singh, who termed it arbitrary, illegal and disproportionate. The Cockroach Janata Party also called for its immediate withdrawal.
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