'Expression of regret not a matter of prestige': BCI chief Manan Kumar Mishra apologises to law students amid NALSAR row

Bar Council of India (BCI) Chairperson Manan Kumar Mishra has apologised to law students following criticism over the regulator's handling of the controversy surrounding Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant's proposed participation in NALSAR University of Law's 2026 convocation, according to PTI.

Mishra issued the apology in a letter on Independence Day, days after students at NALSAR, Hyderabad, and National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru, criticised the BCI'sactions against NALSAR's graduating batch.

Though the letter does not specifically name NALSAR, NLSIU or the convocation controversy, Mishra referred to recent developments that he said had caused concern among law students.

"If anything connected with the present controversy, any of my words, or letter, has hurt the feelings of our law students, I sincerely regret and apologise for the same," Mishra said in the letter.

"There should be no hesitation in saying so. An expression of regret is not a matter of prestige or ego. It is simply an acknowledgment that the feelings and concerns of our students matter," he added.

What led to the BCI-NALSAR row?

The controversy began after a section of NALSAR students opposed the proposal to invite CJI Surya Kant as chief guest for the university's 2026 convocation.

The students had raised objections to the proposal and submitted a representation to the university.

On August 13, the BCI initially directed State Bar Councils not to enrol NALSAR's 2026 graduating batch as advocates until further orders. It also sought an inquiry from the university into those allegedly involved in initiating, organising or mobilising the campaign.

The BCI's initial communication referred to alleged “groupism” and “dirty politics” among some academic staff and accused some teachers of misleading or instigating students.

The order was withdrawn within hours. In its modified communication, the BCI said the “vast majority” of NALSAR's 2026 graduates were innocent and that no student should suffer without fault.

The BCI said it would await the inquiry report from the NALSAR Vice-Chancellor before deciding on further action.

NALSAR, NLSIU students sought apology

Following the episode, the NALSAR Student Bar Council condemned the BCI's action and demanded an apology from Mishra over what it called objectionable comments about students and faculty.

The student body argued that restricting the enrolment of the 2026 graduating batch did not fall within the BCI's statutory functions and raised concerns over the inquiry sought by the regulator.

It also objected to the BCI's request for information that could identify students, faculty members, research scholars, alumni and others allegedly involved in the campaign, calling the exercise intrusive.

Separately, NLSIU students and alumni also condemned the BCI's withdrawn action and demanded an “unconditional apology” to the NALSAR student and faculty community.

The statement was signed by 165 NLSIU students from the graduating class of 2026, 409 current students from various programmes and 128 alumni, according to the signatories.

The NLSIU students described the BCI's action as unconstitutional and argued that the regulator's powers under the Advocates Act, 1961, did not extend to arbitrarily preventing qualified graduates from being enrolled as advocates.

They also expressed solidarity with NALSAR students' request to reconsider CJI Surya Kant's proposed role as chief guest at its convocation and voiced disapproval of the CJI attending NLSIU's upcoming convocation.