BCI withdraws NALSAR enrolment ban hours after barring 2026 graduates over CJI convocation campaign

Hours after the Bar Council of India (BCI) directed State Bar Councils to halt the enrolment of all 2026 law graduates from hyderabad's NALSAR University of Law the regulator has modified its order, allowing all students from the batch to enrol as advocates.

The revised circular, issued by BCI Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra on Thursday, said the Council had discussed the matter and concluded that the "vast majority" of NALSAR's 2026 graduating students were innocent and had not intended to disrespect Chief Justice of India Surya Kant.

"Accordingly, the Council modifies the order of Chairman with regard to the ban on the enrolment of the NALSAR Students with the State Bar Councils. All the students will be entitled to get enrolled with the State Bar Councils of their choice," the BCI said.

The regulator, however, has not closed its inquiry into the alleged campaign at NALSAR opposing the CJI's participation in the university's convocation.

What did the earlier BCI order say?

In its earlier communication issued on Thursday, the BCI had directed all State Bar Councils not to enrol any 2026 law graduate from NALSAR as an advocate until further orders.

"Till further orders, no student of NALSAR University of Law, who has obtained the Law Degree in the year 2026, shall be enrolled by any State Bar Council as an Advocate," the earlier circular said.

The BCI had taken note of reports and material concerning an alleged organised campaign opposing the participation of CJI Surya Kant in NALSAR's convocation.

Mishra had asked NALSAR Vice-Chancellor Professor Srikrishna Deva Rao to submit an authenticated factual report within three days. The BCI had also directed the State Bar Councils to defer enrolment where the regulator specifically communicated the name of an individual for further statutory examination.

Why did BCI modify the order?

The revised circular said BCI members had thoroughly discussed the matter and concluded that most of the 2026 graduates were not involved in the alleged campaign.

"After thorough discussion the Members are of the unanimous view that as per the latest report, vast majority of the students of NALSAR (2026 pass out students) are innocent and they were not inclined to take part in the move of disrespect," the BCI said.

The Council also said it had received information that a "handful of teachers and outsiders" may have been involved in instigating students.

"It has further been reported by some reliable sources that a handful of teachers and outsiders were instrumental in instigating the innocent students," the revised circular said.

The BCI said it would wait for the vice-chancellor's inquiry report before deciding on further action.

"The Council will wait for the inquiry report of the Learned Vice-Chancellor and the further action will be taken after receipt of the report," it said.

The revised order added: "No student shall be made to suffer without any fault on his part."

What is the BCI investigating?

The BCI has asked NALSAR to identify, on the basis of verifiable material, those who were allegedly instrumental in initiating, organising, drafting, circulating, coordinating or mobilising the campaign.

The university has also been asked to provide a complete copy of any representation or petition submitted in connection with the issue, along with the list of signatories on record.

The BCI wants details of people involved in organising meetings, communicating with the media, administering social media or other organised groups used for coordination, and proposing or mobilising any call for boycott, obstruction, disruption or organised non-participation in the convocation or any programme connected with the CJI.

It has also sought details of whether any student body, Student Bar Council, Students' Union or other recognised student organisation was involved.

The university has been asked to specify whether any faculty member, research scholar, alumnus or outsider participated in initiating, drafting, coordinating, advising or facilitating the campaign.

BCI raises allegations against NALSAR faculty

In its earlier communication, the BCI had alleged that there was "groupism and dirty politics" among some academic staff at NALSAR and claimed that some teachers had played an active role in allegedly misleading or influencing students.

"As per some reliable sources, there exists groupism and dirty politics among some of the academic staff and they have played very active role in misleading, instigating and misguiding the students," the earlier circular said.

The BCI described the matter as serious and said it could not remain a "mute spectator" because it is the regulator of legal education.

These allegations remain subject to the inquiry and have not been established as findings against any individual.