Following its earlier demonstrations demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan at Jantar Mantar, the Cockroach Janta Party has now turned its focus toward the Bar Council of India, calling for the resignation of BCI Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra. CJP co-convener Sourav Das issued a statement on Friday asserting that the BCI Chairman must step down on moral grounds. The demand comes amidst widespread outrage over the BCI's punitive measures against law students and severe reprimands from the Supreme Court of India.
Origin of the Row at NALSAR University
The controversy stems from an official invitation extended to Chief Justice Surya Kant to attend the convocation ceremony of NALSAR University of Law as the chief guest. Students at the institution raised objections to the Chief Justice's presence, pointing to specific observations made by him regarding police action during protests at Jantar Mantar. The students voiced their peaceful opposition to the invitation, sparking friction between student bodies and regulatory authorities.
BCI's Retaliatory Order and Rapid Withdrawal
Responding to the student protest, the Bar Council of India took suo motu cognizance and issued a directive prohibiting students graduating from NALSAR in 2026 from registering as legal advocates. Alongside the registration ban, the BCI instructed the university administration to submit a comprehensive list of students who organized and led the demonstration. The move placed the professional futures of hundreds of law graduates in immediate jeopardy.
The punitive decree ignited intense backlash across social media platforms, while the Supreme Court Bar Association strongly condemned the directive as an overreach of authority. Confronted by mounting public pressure and legal opposition, the BCI revoked its order within a few hours of issuance.
Supreme Court Raps BCI During Hearing
During the Supreme Court hearing on Friday, Chief Justice Surya Kant expressed profound dissatisfaction with the BCI's intervention. The Chief Justice emphasized that the BCI had no legitimate authority to meddle in internal university affairs, reaffirming that students possess a fundamental right to engage in peaceful protest. The court stressed that it would not permit any regulatory body to stifle constitutionally protected expression.
Addressing the context of the protest, Chief Justice Surya Kant noted that students had addressed a letter directly to him. Consequently, the matter remained strictly between the judiciary and the student community, rendering any intrusive action by the BCI entirely unwarranted.
Legal Arguments and Binding Directives
Senior Advocate K. Parameshwar submitted before the bench that the BCI lacks jurisdiction over internal institutional matters of law universities. He argued that penalizing students for expressing dissent constituted a direct infringement upon their right to freedom of speech and expression.
Taking decisive action, the Supreme Court instructed the BCI and all State Bar Councils nationwide against initiating any punitive or criminal proceedings against students or faculty members of any National Law University. Furthermore, the apex court ordered the BCI to file its formal response within two weeks. Against this backdrop of judicial scrutiny, the Cockroach Janta Party maintains its demand for the BCI Chairman's resignation as the Supreme Court continues to monitor the situation.
